ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Ohio Department of Transportation reminds the public that millions of drivers will hit the road this Memorial Day weekend, kicking off the unofficial start to summer.

The American Automobile Association estimates that a record 45.1 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home during the holiday, which is 1.4 million more than in 2024, according to a release.

The four-day Memorial Day reporting period runs from midnight on Friday through 11:59 p.m. on Monday. More Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers than usual will be visible and watching for traffic violations, according to Lt. Brian Hawkins of the St. Clairsville post.

Hawkins said the post encourages drivers to commit to safe driving for the holiday weekend. He cited three rules to follow: buckle up every trip, every time; stay focused on the roadway and put down distractions; and never drive impaired. If you drink alcohol, have a plan for a ride home, he advised.

The troopers will be out in full force focusing on seat belt violations, distracted and impaired drivers and speeding, because these behaviors can lead to preventable loss of life.

“There’s going to be a lot of traffic moving around across the state,” he said. “We just encourage everyone to keep those three things in mind when they are traveling, and to try to prepare for traveling as well. Make sure that your vehicle’s maintenance is ready. Keep an eye on that fuel gauge, watch out for disabled vehicles, and watch for the flashing lights on the side of the road and move over and slow down.”

ODOT states that last year in Ohio, 26 people were killed in 22 fatal crashes during the four-day Memorial Day weekend reporting period.

“As we gather with friends and family this Memorial Day weekend to honor those who gave their lives in support of freedom, let’s not forget that safety on our roadways is a shared responsibility,” said Col. Charles A. Jones, patrol superintendent. “Wear your safety belt, stay focused and never drive impaired. The decisions you make could save a life.”

Drivers can call #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving during the weekend and at any time.

“Memorial Day is a busy time on Ohio’s roads as many Ohioans travel to spend time with family and friends,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “I encourage all drivers to be alert and prioritize safety behind the wheel.”

ODOT also states that with nearly 1,000 new construction projects this year, there is a lot of work underway on Ohio’s roads. ODOT will work with contractors to suspend or reduce the size of active work zones as much as possible to accommodate the extra traffic. The release adds, though, that it is not possible to do that in every situation. Travel delays due to road work are likely on Interstate 75 in Dayton and Cincinnati, I-70 through Columbus and Zanesville and both I-76 and I-77 in Akron.

People can find information about work zones, view more than 1,000 live traffic cameras, see current road conditions and get traffic alerts at OHGO.com. County-by-county travel advisories are also available online.

Current road closures will continue until the estimated completion date, and all construction activities will resume following the holiday, according to ODOT District 11 Public Information Officer Lauren Borell. She added that ODOT encourages drivers to check out OHGO.com before heading out for weekend travel to check current traffic information and any roadway impacts.

Hawkins said to pull over to the right hand side of the roadway as far as possible if an emergency occurs or if your vehicle breaks down. Drivers can then call the St. Clairsville patrol post at 740-695-0915 to ask for troopers’ assistance.

“We’re just asking everybody, drive smart, drive safe and make sure it’s a good holiday weekend for everyone,” Hawkins said.