After 27 years with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Staff Lieutenant Rick Reeder has a clear message: enforcement saves lives—but only when it’s done with purpose, compassion, and consistency.
In this Global Road Safety Week conversation with Ferzan Ahmed, Executive Director of the Ohio Turnpike and Chair of IBTTA’s Global Road Safety Committee, Reeder discusses the day-to-day realities of patrolling one of the busiest stretches of highway in the state—and the deep responsibility that comes with it.
He says the role of a trooper isn’t just to issue tickets—it’s to change behavior before a bad decision becomes a deadly one. For Reeder, speed and distraction remain the two most persistent threats on the road. Whether it’s a commercial vehicle hauling hazardous materials at 90 mph or a driver watching movies behind the wheel, deliberate choices demand deliberate consequences.
“You don’t accidentally go 90 miles an hour in a work zone,” he says. “That’s a choice. And choices have consequences.”
Reeder embraces a “strict but fair” approach—combining high-visibility enforcement with real conversations. He stresses that education is essential, but enforcement is the reset button that makes people rethink dangerous behaviors. It’s also a way to protect everyone else on the road: families trying to get home, first responders on the shoulder, and roadway workers in active zones.
He believes safety isn’t just a law enforcement issue. From toll collectors and engineers to policymakers and maintenance crews, everyone plays a role. And real change starts with personal accountability.
Every crash starts with a decision. If enforcement can influence that decision before it turns into a 911 call, he says, then it’s done its job.
Watch the full interview to hear how Reeder and his fellow troopers are combining education, enforcement, and empathy to push Ohio closer to its Vision Zero goal.