It's a national effort to curb a dangerous problem. About 400 people die annually at the hands of wrong way drivers, and the majority of those drivers are drunk. "You will not be allowed to get behind the wheel and use your car as a lethal weapon," says Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB is working to stop those deadly head-on crashes. The board has asked all states to require ignition interlock devices for convicted DWI drivers, even first time offenders."So you either blow clean... And sober ... Or the car doesn't start," says Hersman.
Right now only 17 states have those interlock systems required for first time offenders. But local law enforcement officers say any type of a deterrent is a good thing for the driving community.
"When there is a threat of an increased discipline, people do tend to obey that threat," says Sgt. Robert Sellers with the State Highway Patrol. "We need to use every available resource."
The Ohio Department of Transportation is doing its part to minimize wrong way crashes. Since June, the agency has updated hundreds of signs to make them more visible for impaired drivers, especially at night. Safety leaders say each move is critical in protecting all passengers on the roads.
"Driving while impaired is dangerous not just for them, but for everybody else on the roadway," says Sellers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:02 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:02:53 GMT
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy is out of a job Tuesday. She was fired after a number of internal charges were filed against her. Dionne Waters is charged with a number of counts, including discourteous
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy is out of a job Tuesday. She was fired after a number of internal charges were filed against her.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:47 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:47:52 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled two house fires on the east side of Toledo Tuesday. A home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue was firebombed. Three adults and two children made it out safely. Firefighters also put out a house fire in the 700 block of Euclid Avenue near Starr Avenue.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:36 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:36:01 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews found a boater reported to be missing on Lake Erie Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:33:21 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am.
Lakota Local Schools were dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades were dismissed at 11:45am. There was also no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:54:25 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:07 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:07:36 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio Department of Transportation has revealed which sections of rural interstate highway will have a higher speed limit of 70 mph instead of 65 mph starting July 1. The department
The Ohio Department of Transportation has revealed which sections of rural interstate highway will have a higher speed limit of 70 mph instead of 65 mph starting July 1.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:02 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:02:53 GMT
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy is out of a job Tuesday. She was fired after a number of internal charges were filed against her. Dionne Waters is charged with a number of counts, including discourteous
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy is out of a job Tuesday. She was fired after a number of internal charges were filed against her.
Rescue crews are working through the night after a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least...
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:03 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:03:08 GMT
Heartbreaking photos are coming out of Moore, Oklahoma after a tornado flattened much of the town Monday, killing dozens.
The Governor of Oklahoma says an untold number of people are still missing following the Moore tornado. Emergency crews continue the search for survivors. At least 24 were killed including nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:47 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:47:52 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled two house fires on the east side of Toledo Tuesday. A home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue was firebombed. Three adults and two children made it out safely. Firefighters also put out a house fire in the 700 block of Euclid Avenue near Starr Avenue.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:36 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:36:01 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews found a boater reported to be missing on Lake Erie Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:35 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:35:03 GMT
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.The fire started before 4:30 this morning on Euclid near Starr.Investigators say it was a vacant
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:33:21 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am.
Lakota Local Schools were dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades were dismissed at 11:45am. There was also no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:06 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:06:31 GMT
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were reported killed.
Emergency crews searched through debris in Oklahoma searching for survivors and the dead. At least 24 people were killed in Moore. Many others remain missing.
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