State Highway Patrol Cracking Down on Distracted Drivers
/The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 2019 was the second-deadliest year of the past decade with at least 1,157 people killed in Ohio traffic crashes.
There have been 75,411 crashes in Ohio during the past five years which involved one or more drivers who were distracted by something inside their vehicle.
“Distracted driving must become as culturally unacceptable as drunk driving is today. They’re equally preventable and equally dangerous,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Protect yourself, your family, and others on the road by eliminating all distractions while you drive.”
Two years ago this October 29th, Ohio passed House Bill 95, a law which broadened what is considered distracted driving and also increased the fine.
The Hands Free Ohio bill is also supported by Governor DeWine and, “in cases where a driver using a device causes serious injury or death, the penalties will mirror those of drunken driving.”
As a reminder, Ohio law bans all electronic wireless communication device usage for drivers under 18. Texting while driving is illegal for all drivers and is a secondary offense for adults 18 and above.
