While Ohio has seen improvements to its road safety record in the past several years thanks to a push by Gov. Mike DeWine, the state has a long way to go, according to Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pam Boratyn.
Boratyn joined other transportation leaders from around the world Monday for a webinar to commemorate the kickoff of the International Bridge, Tunnel & Turnpike Association’s (IBTTA) second annual global road safety week. IBTTA, which dubs itself as a global association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them, held the webinar to spotlight people and policies behind roadway safety progress.
The discussion was moderated by Ohio Turnpike Executive Director Ferzan Ahmed, who serves as IBITTA’s second vice president. Other participants included New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Francis O’Connor, and Maryland Deputy Secretary of Transportation Samantha Biddle.
Boratyn said Ohio has one of the largest highway safety programs per capita in the country. She said the state got to where it is because of encouragement from DeWine, who had lost a daughter in a car crash. She noted that he prioritized a ban on distracted driving and improving safety on rural roads, as well as recent initiatives to bring back driver safety to schools.
She said traffic deaths and pedestrian fatalities have decreased for three years in a row, and so far this year, the state is 19 percent lower in traffic deaths and 20 percent lower in pedestrian deaths.
Boratyn also discussed how the state uses analytics to improve safety.
Asked about increases in technology like adaptive signals and connected vehicles, O’Connor said technology has helped but will not solve all crashes because there are still humans behind the wheel. He said they have focused on trying to get drivers to think before they get in a car.
Bortayn said ODOT has worked with local governments and universities to make sure technology deployments meet real world safety needs. She cited initiatives such as wrong way corridors, which she said has resulted in 90 percent of drivers turning around.
She also cited instances of novel uses of technology, like the use of a robotic dog when a fire on Interstate 471 damaged the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge in Cincinnati. The robot was used to assess the damage in areas that they could not get to with engineers or drones, and she said the 3-D models it provided were a big help in getting the bridge back open within 100 days of the accident.
Ahmed asked Bortayn about the use of drones to monitor real time traffic flow and potential privacy issues. Boratyn said ODOT has been cognizant of privacy, saying they are not trying to capture license plate numbers with drones or other personal data. She noted the Ohio General Assembly has been clear that the state has to be careful with these technologies, noting bans on using devices for traffic enforcement if an officer is not present.
She added ODOT is also aware of privacy concerns in the development of artificial intelligence.
The panel focused many of their comments on the importance of public education. Biddle said they need to go outside of their comfort zones to change driver behavior, even if it might make drivers uncomfortable.
Story originally published in The Hannah Report on June 23, 2025. © 2025 Hannah News Service, Inc.