Ohio Looks To Strengthen Distracted Driving Laws
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In an effort to make the roadways safer for travel, Gov. Mike DeWine introduced the "Hands-Free Ohio" provision in his Executive Budget proposal that would strengthen distracted driving laws.
The provision would make handling any electronic wireless device while driving a primary offense for adult drivers and would also increase fines for drivers who habitually use devices while driving, according to a news release. Ohio is currently only one of four states without primary enforcement laws for adults.
As of now, using a hand-held electronic wireless device is only a primary offense for drivers under the age of 18, and a secondary offense for adults who text while driving. Law enforcement is prohibited from pulling over an adult driver using a wireless device unless the driver also commits a primary traffic offense.
Bridgeport Police Chief John Bumba said he thinks strengthening the law is a "great idea" and that the provisions could help deter distracted driving.
"That would definitely cut down on crashes," he said.
Bumba said he sees many motorists operating their vehicles with cell phones in hand, which can lead to traffic accidents. Bumba said a low percentage of the village's accidents are attributed to distracted driving. However, that is mostly because after an accident occurs, officers ask the driver if they had been operating a cell phone at the time of the accident and around 90 percent of the time people say "no," he said.
In August, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation established a Distracted Driving Safety Corridor along Interstates 70 and 470 in Belmont County to create awareness and discourage distracted driving on that stretch of roadway. Trooper Brice Nihiser, public information officer for the patrol, said the provisions could help in the efforts to further deter distracted driving and make the roads safer.
"Anything going forward will help, in combination with the distracted driving corridor, to reduce distracted driving and keep people's hands on the wheel and eyes on the road," he said.
According to the OSHP, more than 100,000 distracted driving crashes have occurred since 2013 in the state, resulting in over 53,000 injuries. Nihiser said the provisions could help make the roadways a safer place for motorists.
The proposed provisions would prohibit several actions while driving including writing, sending or reading texts; watching or recording videos; taking photos or looking at images; live streaming; using apps; entering information into GPS navigation programs; dialing phone numbers; and holding a device for a phone call.
Outlined exemptions will include using hand-held wireless devices for emergency calls; while in a stationary vehicle outside of the lane of traffic; in hands-free mode to talk on the phone, dictate text-based messages, or listen to received messages; in circumstances where an action can be accomplished with only a single swipe; in public safety or utility professions, as necessary for duties; and if the wireless feature is a permanent part of the vehicle. GPS devices would be permitted for navigation so long as designations are entered prior to beginning the trip and if the device is not held or supported with the body.
According to the release, the provisions call for a six-month warning period in which law enforcement would issue warnings instead of citations as part of an educational campaign to spread awareness regarding the strengthened laws. ODOT would also install signage alerting motorists to the regulations. ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks stated that the department takes distracted driving seriously due to more than half of its workforce performing their job duties near live traffic.