COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced a remarkable decrease in traffic crashes following the enactment of strengthened distracted driving laws in the state.
Preliminary data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol reveals that distracted driving crashes reached a record low in September 2023, compared to statistics dating back to January 2018. The numbers paint a striking picture, with distracted driving crashes peaking at 1,383 in May 2018, only to hit a low of 576 last month.
“In just six months, this law is saving lives by changing the culture around distracted driving and changing the behavior of drivers behind the wheel,” stated Governor DeWine. He expressed gratitude to drivers who have embraced the law and urged others to do the same, emphasizing that there is no acceptable level of distracted driving.
When comparing the first nine months of 2022 and 2023, the data shows a remarkable reduction of 1,255 distracted driving crashes, representing a 16 percent decrease. During the same period, distracted driving fatalities also dropped by nearly 25 percent.
The impact of the new law is not limited to distracted driving crashes alone. It has influenced the total number of overall traffic crashes in Ohio, suggesting that distracted driving-related incidents were underreported. September 2023 recorded the lowest number of overall crashes in nearly six years, except for April 2020 when travel was limited due to the COVID pandemic. In January 2018, the state saw 29,264 crashes, whereas last month registered around 14,458 crashes, a reduction of more than 50 percent.
Furthermore, when comparing the first nine months of 2022 and 2023, there were nearly 23,000 fewer overall traffic crashes this year, with approximately three dozen fewer traffic fatalities during this period.
The catalyst behind this dramatic improvement was Senate Bill 288, signed by Governor DeWine in January, which, in most circumstances, prohibits all drivers from using or holding a cell phone or electronic device while driving. The law went into effect in April after a six-month grace period, which was used for educating motorists about the new regulations. The grace period ended recently, with law enforcement now actively issuing citations.
To enforce the law further, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will carry out high-visibility traffic enforcement on distracted driving corridors throughout Ohio, including on major highways like I-71 in Delaware County, I-77 in Summit County, I-70 in Guernsey County, and U.S. 35 in Jackson County.
Colonel Charles A. Jones, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent, stressed the dangers of distracted driving and the potential for devastating consequences.
Despite the significant progress, authorities acknowledge that more work is needed to further reduce distracted driving incidents. A new public awareness campaign titled “Never Here” has been launched to continue raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
The new laws have garnered considerable public attention, with a recent poll indicating that 90 percent of licensed Ohio drivers are aware of the new regulations, and 75 percent have reduced their phone usage while driving.
The bill was initially part of House Bill 283 and was sponsored by Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), with representatives Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek) contributing to its development. Under the previous law, distracted driving was only a primary offense for juvenile drivers, limiting officers’ ability to stop adult distracted drivers unless they committed an additional primary traffic violation.
There are exceptions to the new law, including allowing adult drivers to make or receive calls using hands-free devices, using GPS with pre-set navigation, and holding a phone directly to their ear for a call, with devices only activated with a single touch or swipe while driving. Devices can also be used while stopped at traffic lights or during emergencies. Both adults and juveniles can use phones at any time to report emergencies to first responders.
For more information about Ohio’s new distracted driving laws, visit phonesdown.ohio.gov.