Deaths on Ohio’s roads are on pace to surpass 2011’s full-year total during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Counting provisional, unverified deaths, there have been 1,004 traffic fatalities in 2012 through Nov. 20. In 2011, there were 1,015 traffic deaths – an all-time low. During last year’s Thanksgiving four-day holiday stretch, 17 people were killed on Ohio’s roads.

Given that an average of 18 people have died on Ohio’s roads during the past three Thanksgiving weekends, Ohio is projected to see an increase in traffic deaths from last year before December.

“Hopefully, we won’t get there,” said Lt. Anne Ralston of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “Unfortunately, we have been running ahead in 2012 of where we were in 2011 going on year-to-date data… . We’re hoping we’ll have a safe last month and a couple weeks to the year in order to keep that number down as low as possible.”

Adding 26 unconfirmed deaths to the 978 verified fatalities, the 1,004 deaths are 100 more than this time last year — an increase of about 11 percent. Much of the increase has come from southwest Ohio, with Darke (12 more), Preble (8), Miami (3), Clark (4), Greene (2), Warren (12), Hamilton (18) and Butler (5) counties having a combined 64 more confirmed traffic deaths than this point last year.

“We all share the responsibility of contributing to a safe holiday on Ohio roadways by obeying all traffic laws and never driving impaired,” said OSHP Superintendent Col. John Born. “As a member of the motoring public, you can help save lives by reporting unsafe and aggressive drivers to law enforcement.”

Ralston said the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year on Ohio’s roads. Many OSHP posts are adding drunk-driving checkpoints this week. Clark County and Montgomery County officials will announce exact OVI locations 24 hours before they begin.

Ralston notes that deaths from operating a vehicle impaired (OVI) have dropped from eight to seven to four fatalities during the last three Thanksgiving weekends.

“We do see a spike in impaired drivers during the holiday weekend,” Ralston said. “Unfortunately, it is one of the deadlier weekends on Ohio roadways. That’s why we make sure we give it as much attention as we do a July 4 or a Memorial Day or a Labor Day.”

AAA estimates that 43.6 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this week, many by automobile. Ralston said extra time and traffic issues should be built into travelers’ plans.

“We hope not any deaths are reported on Thanksgiving weekend,” Ralston said. “One fatal crash is one too many. We’re going to be out there being highly visible attempting to change driver behavior.

“If we just make somebody slow down a little bit, make sure they’re making safe lane changing and we’ll be out there aggressively looking for impaired drivers who are creating such a significant risk to other motorists.”

The state patrol asks motorists to report any drug activity or impaired drivers by safely calling #677. Said Ralston: “We’ll get a trooper out there to get those dangerous drivers off the road.”