COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Leaders at The Ohio State Highway Patrol highlighted their progress in making Ohio roads a safer place in the annual state of the patrol address on Friday. Colonel Charles A. Jones, the Patrol Superintendent for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, delivered the address. He spoke about seeing a decrease in fatal crashes and distracted driving incidents in 2024. He also spoke about plans to keep that decrease going this year. Jones said the name of that plan is ACT 2025. He said the plan focuses on immediate needs and long term progress. “Our troopers are focused. They know what the mission is," Jones said. Jones said the overall mission for this year is the same as ever -- making the roadways safer for all drivers. “I just wanted to spend some time reflecting on all the great work that occurred in 2024 and talk a little bit about where we are headed mission wise in 2025,” Jones said. ACT 2025 has several key components. He said one component is combating impaired driving, setting a goal to see a 10% reduction in fatal and injury crashes. NBC4 asked if the legalization of recreational marijuana last year has impacted those numbers. “We know that what we've seen is, there is an increase in drug-involved, fatal crashes and drivers in general. So, yes, it is happening. But, you know, that trend was happening long before the legalization of marijuana," Jones said. “We have all the resources that we need to combat drug driving. Our troopers are highly trained.” Another goal of ACT 2025 is to have a 10% reduction in distracted driving crashes. April will mark two years since Ohio enacted its distracted driving law. “Drivers need to know that if you're on your phone and you're in violation of the distracted driving law, that when you get stopped you may get a citation,” Jones said. Jones said Ohio is currently the only state nationwide with a distracted driving law to see two consecutive years of decreases in handheld phone use while driving after implementing that law. He says meeting these goals would make it a third. “Well, I think it's, I think it's the messaging," Jones said. "You know, it's educating the motoring public about what the law says. And I think we did a very good job of making sure the message was out there. But the enforcement component is also very, very important." Other goals in ACT 2025 include reducing the OVI recidivism rate, reducing speeding violations and increasing seat belt compliance.  During the address, Jones also emphasized that the patrol is a family by sharing a story of a patrol member in need of a kidney transplant and another that stepped up to be a doner. Jones said he officially made family a core value of the Ohio State Highway Patrol a few years ago.  “The state patrol does a physical fitness test every two years. It's called GST and it's 2018. My lab results came back with my kidney function lower than normal. So the academy doctor suggested that I go to a kidney specialist and my twin brother also has the same genetic disorder. So I went to Cleveland Clinic and ran some more tests and found out that it's called output syndrome, which basically deteriorates kidney function,” said Sgt. Andrew Geer with OSHP. Geer said he was hospitalized in 2023 and found out he would need a kidney transplant. He said he left QR codes with that information at the highway patrols posts. Tracey Harvey, an administrative professional at the Mt. Gilead post, saw those cards and decided to get tested. Turns out she was a match.  “Honestly, I was excited. I feel that you don't rarely get put in a position like that to be so helpful to someone in that type of arena. We see so, so many times people are sick and we just have to watch them be sick. And I felt honored that I can be that person for him,” Harvey said. In October, the two went into surgery at OSU hospital. Both surgeries were a success.  OSHP shared a video of both of them walking out of the hospital healthy just days after the surgery. The exit path was lined with troopers and other members of the patrol. “To see my coworkers there and other people I hadn't seen in years. Guys that used to work with other posts and they transferred to other agencies, hadn't seen them in five to 10 years. And to see them there, how they got the word. I was in the hospital out of there, but it was just awesome. You never doubt their support,” Geer said. Both are now back at work and say this whole process has been an honor.  “To me, it's a brotherhood. A brotherhood. It's family. It's when it comes down to we all do the same job. We work together. You see these people more than your actual own family. So it's families that are the only way you can put the colonel. I'm glad he put that as a core value,” Geer said. They both want to send a message to others — to sign up to be on the transplant list. ...read more read less