COLUMBUS – Gov. Mike DeWine is backing legislation aimed at cracking down on drivers who use smartphones and other handheld devices behind the wheel.
“What’s at stake is, we can pass this and save lives or we can continue down the pathway we’ve been going and see more people die,” said Gov. Mike DeWine, who spoke out in support of the bipartisan “Hands Free Ohio” bill announced Thursday, which would make those activities enough reason for police to pull drivers over.
DeWine’s daughter was killed in a traffic accident in 1993.
The measure would make writing, sending or looking at texts, watching or recording photos or videos, or livestreaming while handling an electronic device, among other activities, a primary offense, meaning police don’t need another reason to stop motorists.
“We’ve got to do something to end this madness,” said WBNS 10-TV sportscaster Dom Tiberi, whose daughter Maria was killed in a distracted-driving crash in 2005. “We’re losing a generation. It’s the leading killer of our kids.”
Since his daughter’s death, Tiberi has carried out an extensive campaign to educate parents and students about the dangers of distracted driving.
The bill would also increase fines for people who are caught regularly using electronic devices while driving in Ohio.
“Strengthening the penalties will help, but it will also take education of future drivers and parents and other family members and, like we had here today, and coalitions saying, look we do not want to live in an Ohio where you can drive distracted down the road,” said Sen. Stephanie Kunze, who co-sponsored the measure, along with Sen. Sean O’Brien (D-Bazetta).
The “Hands-Free Ohio” bill will increase fines for drivers who habitually use devices while driving and, in cases where a driver using a device causes serious injury or death, the penalties will mirror those of drunken driving.
Exemptions include using a phone to place an emergency call or while in a stationary vehicle outside of the lane of traffic or in hands-free mode.
Citing statistics from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, DeWine said traffic fatalities in Ohio have increased in five of the past six years and early data indicates that 2019 was the second-deadliest year of the past decade with at least 1,157 people killed in traffic crashes.
“We have no doubt that fatal crashes in Ohio have increased due to smartphone use. Other states that have enacted hands-free laws have seen significant reductions in traffic fatalities,” O’Brien said.
“I am encouraged to see Governor DeWine and my Senate colleagues raising awareness to this very important issue,” said Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville), who has introduced similar legislation in the House. “Like many others, I believe this is a problem Ohio needs to solve.”
Lightbody says her bill received its first hearing in the House Committee on Transportation and Public Safety