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Super Bowl Heightens Risk on Area Roads: Federal Aid Will Put More Police on Key Streets to Watch Drivers

Posted on: Saturday, 4 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Marilyn Miller, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

Feb. 4--Super Bowl Sunday is one of the year's most dangerous days on the nation's roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.

So while it's a big day for football lovers, it's also a big day for extra officers on the lookout for speeders, aggressive drivers and drunken drivers.

"We will target six locations -- three on the expressway and three on surface streets," said Lt. Tom Hanley, who heads the Akron Police Department's traffic division. "Our goal is to slow people down, but if we stop someone and they've been drinking, it could result in a driving-under-the-influence charge.

"The real problem is when people start leaving wherever they've been drinking, whether it's a private party or a bar. The bottom line is, if you're going to drink, get a designated driver."

Last year on Super Bowl Sunday, Akron police issued 89 traffic citations.

The Cuyahoga Falls Police Special Operations Unit will beef up patrols on state Route 8, State Road and Portage Trail. "Those are the roadways where we have the highest accidents in the city," said Falls Lt. Dale Gramley. "We will have an extra team of five officers on patrol from 5 p.m. to whenever."

Gramley said 12 arrests were made in Cuyahoga Falls on Super Bowl Sunday in 2005. No other numbers were available.

The overtime money for the traffic blitzes comes from a federal grant administered through the state. The amount of the grant and whether a city qualifies for funding are based on the percentage of highway deaths per year over a three-year period.

Not all cities will have additional enforcement.

The money is used for overtime on specific days, including Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Eve and Super Bowl Sunday.

The State Highway Patrol plans to beef up patrols in the Belden Village area in Jackson Township. Police are targeting speed and seat-belt violations, but will also be working in conjunction with Stark County sheriff's patrols that will be focusing on impaired driving as well as seat-belt violations and reckless driving.

Summit County will also have additional cars on the road. "We're targeting all roadways, but specifically Interstate 77, state Route 8, state Route 91 and state Route 93, Main Street and Arlington Road. Those are the areas we have the highest crash rate," said Sgt. Scott Cottle of the Summit County Sheriff's Office. "We will be on the roadways before, during and after the Super Bowl game."

Summit-Stark Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Sheppard said the patrol will target party spots where there is an increased risk of people driving under the influence, and will hit interstates hard, including the Ohio Turnpike.

"We're normally out there keeping a high profile because the turnpike is one of the safest roads in the country, and we plan to keep it that way," said Lt. Tom Morgan. "But because the Super Bowl is in Detroit and the route of travel is closer to home with Pittsburgh playing, we will increase our visibility on the road. But it won't be a one-day effort like they'll do locally; we'll be out there three or four days."

Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or 800-777-7232 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio

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Source: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

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