The Ohio State Highway Patrol is working to make our roads safer by cracking down on more than just speeders and arresting people for far more than just traffic violations.

The patrol has taken great strides to focus on drug trafficking. The results have been very positive and the proof is in the raw numbers.

Statistics show troopers made 4,728 drug arrests January through June, which marks an 18 percent increase over the same period last year. This reflects an increase of 42 percent compared to the average number of arrests from 2010 through 2012.

Although this increase can certainly be partially attributed to the growth in drug trafficking and prescription drug abuse, it also is a testament to the enforcement efforts by the OSHP.

This is positive progress for every community in Ohio as it helps keep drugs off the streets and makes our roadways safer.

The patrol’s leadership – at the state and local level –- should be commended for these efforts and results as it complements enforcement by other state and local agencies.

Arresting criminals and making our communities safer is never about who does what, just that it gets accomplished.

Our communities are better for it.