The state had 27 fatalities involving distracted driving between Oct. 5, 2023 — when full enforcement of the law took effect — to Oct. 4 this year. Three of them were in Montgomery County and two occurred in Butler County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. No fatalities involving distracted driving occurred in Champaign, Clark, Greene, Miami, Preble or Warren counties.
Data also shows fewer Ohioans are using mobile devices while driving, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“What we really are trying to do is just spread the message and do what we can to try and get that cultural shift to start happening,” ODOT spokeswoman Mandi Dillon said.
“We know that it’s going to take time. But we really need people to start putting that phone down, not driving distracted,” she added. “We want people to make sure that … they’re focused on the road, they’re staying alert.”
Credit: NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF PHOTO
Credit: NICK BLIZZARD/STAFF PHOTO
The impact of the law is also reflected in the overall decrease in crashes in Ohio, supporting the theory that drivers don’t always admit to driving distracted before a collision.
Preliminary data from OSHP shows that from Oct. 5, 2023, to Oct. 4, 2024, there were nearly 15,400 fewer motor vehicle crashes compared to the 12 months prior. The total number of traffic fatalities also dropped, with 138 fewer people killed.
That data reflects only those roads and highways in the state patrol’s jurisdiction. It doesn’t include the number of crashes, fatalities and citations on local city or township streets.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said of the new data Wednesday, “Ohio’s tougher distracted driving law is influencing better behavior behind the wheel” and “promoting a culture of responsibility on our roads, and that’s truly something to celebrate.”
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Crash, ticket data varies
Fatal crashes attributed to distracted driving dropped 19.4% in the past year, according to preliminary data from the state patrol. About 1,112 fewer distracted driving crashes occurred compared to the 12 months prior.
Montgomery County, which is the fifth-most populous county in Ohio, had the fourth-most distracted driving-related crashes, after the big three of Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Franklin counties, said OSHP Sgt. Tyler Ross.
In southwest Ohio, the number of distracted driving crashes in each county in the past year tracked closely to population levels — more people equaled more crashes. (see chart).
Distracted driving
| County | Crashes | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | 444 | 132 |
| Butler | 246 | 543 |
| Warren | 202 | 1,058 |
| Greene | 164 | 91 |
| Clark | 118 | 322 |
| Miami | 100 | 89 |
| Preble | 31 | 25 |
| Champaign | 14 | 12 |
| Source: Ohio State Highway Patrol |
But the number of violations written up by the State Highway Patrol from county to county showed some dramatic differences. Montgomery County (533,000) has more than twice as many people as Warren County (252,000), but troopers in Warren County wrote eight times as many violations (1,058, compared to Montgomery County’s 132). Warren County is the 10th most populous county in Ohio, but had the third most violations recorded by the state patrol.
Comparatively high numbers of violations per capita were recorded in Warren and Clark counties, while fewer violations were written in Montgomery and Greene counties.
Spelling out the rules
With a few exceptions, anything that involves using, holding, or supporting a device while driving is off-limits, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Texting, typing an address into GPS, dialing a phone number or holding a phone in front of you while talking on speakerphone are prohibited.
Motorists legally can swipe their phone once to answer a call and talk on the phone only while holding the phone to their ear. Otherwise, they need to go completely hands-free with a few exceptions. Two prominent exceptions are the ability to use cell phones to report an issue to emergency officials, and the ability to use a device while stopped at a traffic light. The state offers more detail on the rules here.
Unlike some traffic laws, distracted driving “doesn’t discriminate like we see with OVI,” Ross said. “We see that in the evening, hours, more typically, on the weekends.”
Distracted driving “happens all hours of the day, all days of the week. It could be a 16-year-old up to somebody that’s elderly,” he added.
“We see it all ages,” Ross said. “People are on their phones. It’s 2024. Technology is a big part of our life — personally and professionally. But we have to take it serious. We have to change that culture, put our phones down when we get into the vehicles — just like wearing our safety belts.”
The hands-free law took effect in April 2023. But until Oct. 5 of last year, motorists who violated the new law were given written warnings ... though officers could have pursued additional charges if they found other violations after stopping the vehicle.
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
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