With Butler County among the participating areas, Ohio officials are launching a new effort aimed at preventing impaired driving during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The Ohio Traffic Safety Office announced Thursday the start of “Project Plan Ahead,” a statewide rideshare initiative that will provide free Uber and Lyft credits to help keep impaired drivers off the road. The program will debut over Memorial Day weekend and includes Butler County, along with Hamilton, Franklin, Montgomery, Lucas, Summit, and Cuyahoga counties. Officials say participants can receive up to $15 in rideshare credits for trips beginning or ending within participating counties. The credits will be available from 5 p.m. through 3 a.m. May 22 through May 26 while supplies last. Ohioans can learn more and access ride codes through the Project Plan Ahead website. “Memorial Day weekend is a time when we see increased travel and higher rates of impaired driving,” said Ohio Traffic Safety Office Director Emily Davidson. “Project Plan Ahead gives Ohioans a simple, safe, and effective way to get home.” According to the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, 54 percent of all motor vehicle deaths in Ohio are related to impaired driving. State data shows there were more than 10,000 impaired driving crashes across Ohio in 2025, including 541 fatal crashes. During last year’s Memorial Day weekend, Ohio recorded 13 deadly crashes that killed 14 people. Authorities say alcohol or drugs were factors in 10 of those deaths.

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