As party-goers celebrate Cinco de Mayo with sombreros, mariachi music and authentic cuisine, many will also indulge with their favorite margarita or tequila, and then, unfortunately, choose to get behind the wheel. That’s why this year the Ohio State Highway Patrol will be joining with other law enforcement agencies across the state to encourage everyone to plan ahead this Cinco de Mayo and to never drive impaired.
The Patrol is planning high-visibility enforcement and OVI checkpoints across the state in an effort to reduce OVI-related fatal and injury crashes.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2007 to 2011, 38 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities that occurred each year around May 5th involved impaired drivers or motorcycle operators with blood alcohol concentrations of .08 and above.