BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is intensifying its focus on two critical safety issues this month: school bus violations and impaired driving. The announcement comes from OSHP lieutenants in the Bucyrus District, covering posts including Marion and Mansfield.
With National School Bus Safety Week underway, troopers are actively patrolling bus routes and school zones, using on-board school bus cameras to issue citations for drivers illegally passing stopped buses. Penalties for passing a stopped school bus can include mandatory court appearances and license suspensions.
In addition, OSHP posts across the district have partnered for a two-week saturation effort to remove impaired drivers from the road, a push that will continue through the upcoming holiday season. According to the OSHP, the Bucyrus District has seen nearly 1,650 OVI-related crashes since 2023, resulting in more than 80 fatalities. Authorities stress that impaired driving is a constant problem, occurring at all hours and involving alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription medications.
The Patrol urges the public to pre-plan a ride home if consuming alcohol and to call #677 to report a suspected impaired driver. The OSHP is also actively recruiting, with interested candidates encouraged to visit a local patrol post or website to learn about their ride-along and recruitment programs.