Injuries on a stretch of Sawmill Parkway have dropped from eight serious in 2024 to just one minor so far in 2026 since Powell police launched a targeted enforcement program, and officers plan to increase patrols as Olentangy schools reopen Aug. 20.

The S.A.F.E. Passage Initiative, which stands for Sawmill Parkway Awareness and Focused Enforcement, covers the corridor between Seldom Seen Road and Home Road. Before the program began, the zone saw 13 crashes and eight serious injuries in 2024. Through early August 2026, officers have recorded eight crashes and just one minor injury, according to NBC4.

"Our officers are not even finding as many violations that they did before," Powell Police Deputy Chief Scott Roach said. "Their hard work through their visibility and their deterrence is showing that, hey, the passage is safer now."

Police Chief Ron Sallows created the initiative in response to complaints about aggressive driving, excessive speeds and crashes along the corridor. In its first year, 2025, officers made 480 traffic stops, issued 84 citations and recorded nine crashes with two injuries.

The program runs each year from May through Labor Day. With the final month now underway, Powell police said they will boost officer visibility during school start and dismissal times. Olentangy Local Schools' first day of classes is Thursday, Aug. 20. Officers will also target red-light running, texting while driving and loud mufflers.

Kari Boetcher, owner of Teaching Tree Preschool and Daycare off Sawmill Parkway, said she regularly sees officers working in the area and has noticed a difference. Boetcher said traffic has dropped noticeably and drivers are no longer speeding past the school the way they used to.

The S.A.F.E. model may expand beyond the Sawmill corridor. At the Powell Operations Committee meeting on June 16, Chief Sallows said the department was developing a broader community safety initiative modeled after the program, with high-visibility patrols planned around schools, neighborhoods and multi-use paths.

Enforcement continues through Labor Day, Sept. 7.