COLUMBUS, Ohio — A milder Valentine’s weekend is bringing more drivers onto Ohio roadways, and in Columbus, that warm stretch could quietly shift traffic conditions.
After weeks of winter commutes — slick mornings, salt-covered highways, cautious braking — the first mild spell in February often creates a sense of relief. Pavement looks clearer. Intersections feel easier. Drivers begin accelerating sooner and leaving less space between vehicles without realizing it.
This weekend, movement increases.
Traffic builds along I-70, I-71, and I-270 as couples head toward dinner reservations and weekend plans. Congestion tightens through Downtown and the Short North. Parking fills quickly near Nationwide Arena and around High Street. Evening activity increases near the Scioto Mile as people take advantage of the comfortable air before nighttime plans.
Warmer weather also brings more pedestrians into crosswalks that felt quieter during colder weeks.
It’s not snow that creates the highest risk during weekends like this.
It’s comfort.
When roads appear dry and predictable, reaction times can soften. Drivers assume braking will be smooth. They assume other vehicles are paying attention. They assume winter caution isn’t as necessary.
Add Valentine’s anticipation — tight schedules, emotional distraction, unfamiliar parking — and the margin for error narrows quickly.
The combination of mild temperatures and increased travel across Columbus roadways Saturday and Sunday evening can quietly elevate crash risk, even without winter weather in the forecast.
If you’re driving anywhere in the city this weekend, especially after dark, stay alert.
Because sometimes the most dangerous winter driving happens when it doesn’t look like winter anymore.
