Ohio is getting serious about reducing distracted driving accidents. Texting and phone calls cause thousands of accidents each year, and Ohio’s new House Bill 95 is designed to stop drivers from using their phones while driving.
Ohio State Representatives from the Columbus and Cincinnati areas co-sponsored the bill. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and Jim Hughes (R-Upper Arlington) brought the bill before the state assembly, and got it passed into law. Governor John Kasich went on to sign House Bill 95 into law.
Distracted driving includes other distractions beside the smart phone. Reading a book, putting on makeup, or dealing with a loose pet are all subject to this distracted driving fine, which can go up to $100.
It is new for distracted driving to be a secondary offense. As a secondary offense, that means there must be a primary offense – a moving violation, for example, that results in the vehicle being pulled over.
People who are pulled over and cited for distracted driving are given an option for resolving their ticket. They can pay the $100, or they can complete an educational course about distracted driving to remove the infraction.
While House Bill 95 was being debated in committee, people testified in support of the legislation. A journalist from 10TV (CBS affiliate WBNS-TV), Dom Tiberi, testified on behalf of the new bill. Tiberi’s daughter, Maria, died in a distracted driving accident.
By bringing this legislation into existence, Ohio is taking a leadership role, as one of the first states to increase the penalties associated with texting while driving – as well as other forms of distraction that reduce reaction times for drivers.