Ohio Department of Transportation

Research shows that anyone is susceptible to leaving a child behind in a hot car — especially when there are distractions or changes to routines. Our friends at Buckle Up for Life shared a few precautions you can take for extra safety and peace of mind.

- Use a reminder in the front seat. Place one or more of your child's belongings, like an article of clothing, in the seat where you can see it.
- Force yourself to check the back seat. Keep one of your essentials, like your phone, bag, or wallet, in the back by your child's car seat.
- Always lock your vehicle when it's parked and unattended. Don't let your child play in or around parked cars, and make sure the keys are out of their reach, too.
- Create alerts for yourself. Keep track of when your child travels with notifications on your phone, written notes, or check-ins with your child’s other caregivers. Another idea is to create a policy with your child's babysitter, daycare, or school to receive a call if your child hasn't arrived by a certain time.
- NEVER leave your child unattended in your vehicle, even for a few moments. Vehicles can reach dangerous internal temperatures even when it's mild outside.

Sharing for our friends over at the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.

Home To reduce vehicle crashes on roadways everywhere, tolling agencies from across the globe have issued a call-to-action urging motorists to be self-aware of unsafe driving behaviors behind the wheel – such as speeding, distracted and impaired driving, and not wearing a safety belt.

The 2024 Ohio State Fair kicks off TODAY! Come join the fun in and stop by the ODOT booth for your state map!

This , we’re spotlighting Bob, Jeff, Ryan, and Brandon. In January, they worked around the clock after a bridge over I-70 in downtown Columbus was struck by an excavator. Today, you can see them standing together on the same bridge they helped repair. Great work!

So far this year, there have been 13,820 speed-related crashes in Ohio. Speed limits are there for a reason.

Risky driving behaviors like speeding can cause serious harm to yourself, other roadway users, and our dedicated first responders who work tirelessly to keep our highways safe. It’s crucial to and for the ODOT Freeway Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO operators. Protect those who protect all of us.

In June, Governor Mike DeWine announced the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Ohio Department of Transportation would coordinate to promote safe driving in Ohio work zones. Enforcement efforts focus on speeding, driving impaired, distracted, or recklessly. Stay tuned for more updates on this work zone safety initiative and how it is not only protecting road workers but all travelers of Ohio's roadways.

Why roundabouts? The answer is simple, safety. Studies by the U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration show that roundabouts achieve a 44% reduction in crashes and reduce serious injury and deadly crashes by nearly 90% at two-way stop intersections.

Learn more and how to drive them here: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/about-us/basics/roundabouts

Help our partners at the Ohio State Highway Patrol by voting for them in the national "Best Looking Cruiser Contest!"

The only thing that says Ohio more than our Flying Wheel is The Ohio State University's Block O! , we need your votes for this year’s American Association of State Troopers (AAST) “Best Looking Cruiser Contest”! You can vote once each day on each of your devices at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BestLookingCruiser2024.
The contest runs through July 29 at Noon. Help us score big, O-H! Ohio State Buckeyes

Move Over. Slow Down. It isn't just the right thing to do, it's the law! The original law took effect in 1999 to reduce the risk of law enforcement and emergency responders. In December 2013 it was expanded to apply to every stationary vehicle with flashing lights, including road construction, maintenance and utility crews.
https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/traveling/move-over/move-over

Wondering when to take a break on your next road trip with baby? Our friends at Buckle Up for Life shared the Two-Hour Rule as an easy way to remember:

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics babies should be in their car seat for no more than two hours at a time. If you're planning a longer trip, be sure to stop every two hours (or less) and remove your child from the car seat for a break.
This allows the baby’s body to stretch, move, and get out of slouching positions, which helps prevent overheating, breathing difficulties, and strain on their still-developing spine, neck, and hips. It can even decrease the risk of developing flat head syndrome.

Yesterday, our cartographers got to check out their handiwork in Macedonia for the official state of Ohio map! Countless hours are put into ensuring accuracy from the location of medical facilities to updated roadways. You can pick up 1 - or more - of the 1.5 million copies at the Ohio State Fair in TWO WEEKS :)

Barricades are there for a reason. Do NOT drive around them.

The Craig Memorial Bridge had been closed for what we thought was just a day for a minor electrical repair. Now it’s closed indefinitely after a motorist blasted through and damaged the gates after driving around barricades. And to the unknown (hopefully-soon-to-be-identified) driver — why??🫤

🚨 Help keep our Highway Technicians safe! 🚨

It's crucial to remember to MOVE OVER when you see flashing lights on the road. Whether it's emergency vehicles or our dedicated highway crews, giving them space can save lives. Learn more about the Move Over law and how you can contribute to safer roads at https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/traveling/move-over.

Together, let's ensure everyone gets home safely.

Ohio's updated deployment plan for EV infrastructure is now available online for review and comment. The draft plan includes a summary of the past year's progress and candidate charging locations for future rounds of deployment. Please submit your comments to [email protected] by July 12, 2024.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy ! Celebrate the Declaration by declaring to stay sober behind the wheel.

Protecting roadside workers isn’t just a matter of regulation; it’s the right thing to do. These individuals, often unseen and underappreciated, are risking their lives to help you. It’s crucial that we, as drivers, recognize their presence, slow down, and give them the space and respect they deserve. By doing so, we not only ensure their safety but also demonstrate our appreciation for their invaluable contributions to our communities.

Let’s prioritize safety and move over and slow down for those who work to keep our roads safe and moving.

We care about child and passenger safety wholeheartedly, which is why we’re partnering with Buckle Up for Life.

Take it from Buckle Up for Life: you may want to consider what others on the road can learn from the bumper stickers on your car.
When paired with enough other stickers, something as seemingly harmless as the logo of your neighborhood or your child's sports team can broadcast private information like where you live, where your children go to school, names of family members, and so on.

So, give some extra thought to what you keep on your car and keep your family extra safe.

In 2023, there were 11,324 OVI-related crashes. 59% of those crashes were drivers aged 21 - 39. Take responsibility this summer and drive sober.