Distracted driving is dangerous and has become a serious health problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,450 people were killed in 2016 due to distracted drivers. In 2015, 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts your attention from driving. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for a full 5 seconds or more. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.
A new law was put into place in Ohio in October 2018. This law makes distracted driving a secondary offense, meaning a police officer who pulls you over for a traffic violation could give you an additional ticket if any distracted driving contributed to the offense.
The punishment for a distracted driving offense is either $100.00 or a distracted driving safety course. The new Ohio law broadens ‘distracted’ to include any activity that’s not necessary for driving, including actions like eating or adjusting the radio.