COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine included funds in his budget proposal in order to strengthen Ohio’s distracted driving laws.
The Hands-Free Ohio provisions in DeWine’s budget proposal will make driving while handling any electronic wireless device a primary offense for adult drivers and will increase fines for drivers who habitually use devices while driving, according to a media release.
In cases where a driver using a device causes serious injury or death, the penalties will mirror those of drunken driving.
“Ohio’s current laws don’t go far enough to change the culture around distracted driving, and people are dying because of it,” DeWine said.
“Distracted driving is a choice that must be as culturally unacceptable as drunk driving is today, and strengthening our current laws will lead to more responsible driving.”
Right now, law enforcement is not allowed to stop an adult driver using a wireless device unless the driver commits a primary traffic offense like running a red light.
Additionally, there are no Ohio laws that prohibit adults from driving while using wireless devices for other activities like entering information into GPS navigation programs and dialing a phone number.
“Every time you pick up your phone while driving you are putting your life and the lives of others in danger,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent.
“When you take your eyes off the road - even for just a few seconds the consequences can be devastating.”
More than 100,000 distracted driving crashes have occurred in Ohio since 2013 resulting in more than 53,000 injuries, the media release stated.
Provisional data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows that 2020 was the deadliest year on Ohio’s roads in over a decade with 1,236 people killed in traffic crashes.
The following actions would be prohibited under DeWine’s Hands-Free Ohio plan:
- Writing, sending, or reading text-based communications
- Watching or recording videos
- Taking photos or looking at images
- Live streaming
- Using apps
- Entering information into GPS navigation programs
- Dialing phone numbers
- Holding a device for a phone call
A six-month warning period would also be included in the Hands-Free Ohio plan. Law enforcement would issue warnings instead of citations as part of an educational campaign to spread awareness about the strengthened laws.
“Drivers who are distracted by a device while driving through one of our work zones pose a real and present danger to the lives of the dedicated men and women who work for our agency,” said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks.
“I applaud Governor DeWine for prioritizing this much-needed and common-sense law.”
Cox Media Group
