Crime & Safety

Police on the Lookout for Impaired Drivers Over Thanksgiving Weekend

Ohio Highway Patrol releases new video to raise awareness in preparation for holiday. Lakewood police paying "special attention" to drunken driving.

Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for bars in Lakewood.

are hoping that the people drinking in those bars don’t decide to drive home.

Lakewood Police Chief Timothy Malley said that patrols are paying “special attention” to those areas and staying on the lookout for impaired drivers.

Find out what's happening in Lakewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We also will have foot patrols on the western part of Detroit Avenue to be visible in the commercial district,” he said. “As with any other night if someone is going out to drink a designated driver is the best way to have a good yet safe time.

Last year, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, 10 people were killed on Ohio’s roadways — 30 percent of those were related to impaired driving, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Find out what's happening in Lakewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Each year, nearly 39 people are killed because of impaired driving between the Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve holidays. 

In anticipation of increased traffic during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol released a new video to illustrate the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The eight-minute video features footage from actual traffic stops and aims to educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving.

“We all share the responsibility of contributing to a safe holiday on Ohio roadways by obeying all traffic laws and never driving impaired,” Col. John Born, of the OHP said. “As a member of the motoring public, you can help save lives by reporting unsafe and aggressive drivers to law enforcement.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.