COLUMBUS, Ohio — From the highways to main roads, it may like normal traffic across central Ohio, but the numbers tell a different tale.
- ODOT says drivers appear to be abiding by the statewide stay-at-home order
- Over a one week period, ODOT says there has been a 40 percent drop in traffic volume
- ODOT also reminds drivers to use caution in construction zones
ODOT spokesperson Matt Bruning says travel continues to trend downward across the state — especially passenger vehicles. And numbers confirm a 40 percent drop over the last week.
“They've ordered people to stay home, and the statistics, as far as our traffic counts go, tend to show that people are, by and large, doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing to help flatten the curve,” said Bruning.
Bruning says if you go back to March 16, traffic volume saw a decrease of almost 14 percent.
Fast forward to last Monday the 23rd. The decrease jumped to 32 percent. The first day of stay-at-home, it stood at little over 46 percent and the next day, at 45 percent.
“And across the board in all of our regions we're seeing these massive drops in traffic, not just in overall traffic but really in those passenger vehicles, whereas commercial vehicles, the semi trucks delivering all the goods, we're not seeing a huge drop there, and that's to be expected,” says Bruning.
ODOT has 130 digital message boards across the state, which display safety messages and relevant statistics. Over the last week they've posted messages saying “Stay Home Ohio, Stop Covid-19” and “We Are In This Together Ohio.”
“Is this trip that i'm taking right now essential, should I be doing this? That's one of the reasons we put that up there. We also wanted that message of hope, that we're all in this together” said Bruning.
One group of essential workers that you will see on Ohio's roadways are ODOT workers. Bruning says ODOT is doing all it can trying to keep its workers safe during these trying times, while they work to keep us driver safe and get those essential services where they need to go. But workers are still finding themselves in a dangerous position.
“We had a crew up in Hancock County that was struck in a work zone, even with the lower traffic counts, even with the lower traffic volumes. It's still a dangerous job that our men and women are doing out there on the front lines. So, we just need people that, if you're taking those essential trips, please, if you see our crews, move over, slow down and most importantly, pay attention when you're on the road,” said Bruning.
Bruning says ODOT will continue to monitor the traffic in April with more than 200 traffic count stations, either through loop detectors or radar units.
But for now, ODOT's data shows that Ohioians are staying off the roads, satisfying at least part of DeWine’s order.
