Memorial Day in Lawrence County is always a big event full of fun and family gatherings. It’s also a target weekend when state troopers look to the highways to stop those who had a little too much fun and chose to be irresponsible drivers.

Unfortunately, some of those people didn’t live long enough to get pulled over.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 14 people were killed in the state over Memorial Day weekend. That’s one more person than last year.

Three of those deaths were related to impaired driving. Four of the 14 deaths were a result of a driver or passenger not wearing a seatbelt — tragically preventable deaths.

The patrol made 544 arrests for impaired driving, down nearly 29 percent compared with last year, according to the post. The 5,500 seat belt violations this year were also down nearly 25 percent from the same period in 2014.

While it is good news that both stats decreased from last year, it simply isn’t enough.

Even one person dying or being injured due to impaired driving is one too many.

We’re thankful the state patrol was out in full force to ensure Ohio roads stay safe by arresting those whose judgment was impaired. Getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol just isn’t worth the risk of an innocent life.