(From the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine)

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles Jones, and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced that traffic fatalities have decreased in Ohio for the fourth consecutive year. 

According to preliminary data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), the number of traffic fatalities in 2025 dropped approximately 3% in Ohio as compared to 2024, a difference of 32 lives. This decrease continues the downward trend in traffic fatalities that began in 2022, representing 231 lives saved across four years.

“The fact that more people have made it home to their families the past four years is certainly worth celebrating, but make no mistake — the number of people killed on Ohio’s roads remains far too high,” said Governor DeWine. “Everyone has a role in making our roads safer, and we all have more work to do.”

In 2025, there were 1,125 traffic fatalities on Ohio roadways, compared to 1,157 in 2024.

According to OSHP statistics, 23% of fatal crashes in 2025 were the result of driving off the roadway. In addition, failure to yield the right of way, unsafe speed, driving left of center, following too closely, and running a stop sign were the next top reasons for fatal crashes statewide. Although distracted driving is underreported, it is also believed to be a significant contributing factor to crashes overall. 

Failure to wear a seatbelt also remains a major factor in traffic deaths. In crashes involving vehicles outfitted with seatbelts, nearly 62% of individuals killed from 2021 to 2025 chose not to wear a safety belt, equating to nearly 2,500 people. 

“Oftentimes, fatal crashes are a preventable tragedy, so some of these people would very likely still be here today had they buckled up,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “Wearing a seatbelt is just as important as slowing down, staying alert, and obeying the law.”