OH - Police plan more patrols on I-71 Strongsville-Brook Par
Police plan more patrols on I-71 between Strongsville, Brook Park
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Mark Puente
Plain Dealer Reporter
The State Highway Patrol plans to increase enforcement in the eight-mile corridor on Interstate 71 between Strongsville and Brook Park in an effort to reduce crashes.
Starting Monday and through the next seven weeks, state troopers and local police departments will target the stretch of highway between Ohio 82 and Interstate 480, where 219 accidents occurred last year.
More than 104,000 vehicles pass through the corridor every day, the patrol says.
Commuters in Ohio's largest cities will also see more enforcement along other stretches of interstates.
"This is the start of the busy driving season," said patrol Lt. Tony Bradshaw, "and our highways are getting safer working with other agencies."
In 2006, the patrol and state Department of Transportation chose congested areas to target. Crashes declined by 18 percent and speeds decreased by 7.4 percent, the patrol said.