Troopers out in full force for Memorial Day weekend

Motorists out on the highway this Memorial Day weekend may have noticed more officers on the roadway.

Law enforcement officers are working extra hours to save lives this holiday weekend.

While travelling from Dayton to Piqua Monday morning, a News Center 7 crew saw three Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers in the middle of traffic stops with people pulled over on I-75.

Other drivers out on the road noticed the increase in troopers also.

“We had a family reunion in Lima so we’re heading back,” said Marshall Fullwood of Dayton. “I’ve seen at least seven [officers].”

OSP Sgt. David Robison said the increased presence is to remind people to drive safely.

“Mostly our whole goal is to get people to wherever they’re going safely,” said Sgt. David Robison.

He said troopers are looking for two things this holiday: speed and seat belts.

“It’s the first major holiday of the summer,” Robison said. “Everybody wants to be out and having a good time. We want them to drive accordingly, drive safely, wear your seat belt.”

Most motorists don’t mind the reminder.

“I think it’s great,” said Fullwood. “The safer the better is always a good thing as far as I’m concerned.”

“Hopefully people realize that [troopers] are out there and they’ll run the speed limit,” said Jim Ausburger of John City, Tennessee. “If everyone’s running the speed limit you don’t have these people running in and out, trying to create chaos. So I think it’s a good idea.”

Troopers also know this weekend where drunk driving is more common.

Last Memorial Day weekend, 18 people were killed in crashes across Ohio. Seven of those involved drunk drivers.

News Center 7 will start getting data from this Memorial Day weekend tomorrow. We’ll let you know whether it ends up a safer holiday weekend on the roads.