Distracted Driving Bill Signed into Law

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation today that enables law enforcement to crack down on distracted drivers more easily. Ohio State Highway Patrol Public Affairs Unit Sgt. Phillip Rutherford explained how Ohio Senate Bill 288 authorizes police to stop motorists who are spotted interacting with their electronic devices while driving.

“The new distracted driving bill says that (under) very limited circumstances you can hold a phone in your hand and do it basically to accept or deny a call. Something that would allow you to basically swipe to activate something. And you can’t dial a number or obviously text but that becomes a primary offense now,” Rutherford said.

At least 73,945 distracted driving crashes have been reported since 2017, including 2,186 fatal and serious injury crashes, according to the highway patrol.

“A lot of times when we get phone calls about someone that’s… Maybe a caller calls in and says they think a person’s drunk, a lot of times when we get there it’s someone that’s distracted. They’re doing something that’s taking their eyes off the road, it’s taking their hands off the wheel, or their mind off the road. And a lot of times that distracted driver will look like an impaired driver,” Rutherford said.

Dewine said it was an honor to sign the bill because he believes the legislation will prevent crashes and save lives.