COLUMBUS—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Charles Jones, and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks have announced a new statewide public awareness campaign to draw attention to Ohio’s strengthened distracted driving laws.
Starting on April 4, 2023, it will be illegal in most circumstances for anyone in Ohio to use or hold a cell phone or electronic device while driving. The new educational campaign encourages Ohio drivers to “Lock Your Screen Before You Rock the Road” and includes various materials like a new website, billboards, posters, fact sheets, presentation slides, tip cards, and social media, radio, and television advertisements.
Ohio’s enhanced distracted driving law designates the use of cell phones and other electronic communications devices while driving as a primary traffic offense for all drivers and allows law enforcement to immediately pull over a distracted driver upon witnessing a violation. Under the previous law, distracted driving was a primary offense only for juvenile drivers, preventing officers from stopping adult distracted drivers unless those drivers also committed a separate primary traffic violation, such as speeding or running a red light.
The law includes a 6-month grace period in which law enforcement will issue warnings as part of an effort to educate motorists about the law changes. Beginning on October 4, 2023, law enforcement officers will start issuing tickets to those found violating the law.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, distracted driving has caused at least 60,421 crashes and 209 deaths in Ohio over the past five years. However, distracted-driving crashes are believed to be significantly underreported.
Leah Fullenkamp, whose husband was killed in 2018 when his vehicle was rear-ended by a driver who was online shopping, said, “There’s nothing that you’ve ever done on your phone at any point in time that is worth killing somebody for.”
The Ohio Department of Transportation is also installing signage to educate motorists about the law at locations across the state. These include 45 signs at the state border on interstates and U.S. highways and 19 signs at exits from Ohio’s largest passenger airports in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo.
Ohio’s enhanced distracted driving law was part of Senate Bill 288, sponsored by Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville). The bill was initially part of House Bill 283 sponsored by representatives Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek).
There are some exceptions to the law, including allowing adult drivers to make or receive calls while using a hands-free device, use GPS if they begin navigation before getting on the road, hold a phone directly to their ear for a phone call, and hold or use electronic devices while stopped at a traffic light or parked on a road or highway during an emergency or road closure. Both adults and juveniles can use phones at any time to report an emergency to first responders.