Does this law change Behavior?

Is Ohio’s Distracted Driving Law Really Making Roads Safer?

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April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and Ohio officials are touting the apparent success of the state’s two-year-old “phones down” law. With statistics showing a reduction in crashes and a decrease in distracted driving, it sounds like a victory for road safety. But is the law really responsible for these improvements, or are we just looking at a convenient correlation?

Numbers Tell a Story—But Which One?

According to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, crashes in Ohio have dropped by 8%, injuries are down 3%, and fatalities have declined by 4% since the law took effect in April 2023. On the surface, this looks like progress, but an 8% reduction in crashes is hardly a revolution.

For comparison, overall traffic fatalities in the U.S. decreased by 4.5% in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That suggests Ohio’s numbers might simply be part of a nationwide trend, rather than the direct result of the law.

Then there’s the Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) data, which estimates a 10% drop in phone use among drivers who voluntarily share their data—typically those in employer-based safety programs or seeking insurance discounts. But that raises a key question: Does a decrease in phone use among select drivers truly reflect behavior across the entire driving population?

Underreported Crashes and Enforcement Challenges

While officials highlight reductions, the numbers still reveal a troubling reality: in 2024 alone, Ohio had 8,571 distracted-driving crashes, resulting in 29 fatalities and 4,458 injuries. And these numbers are likely underreported. Distracted driving can be difficult to prove unless the driver admits fault, police catch them in the act, or a phone record is subpoenaed.

Ohio law enforcement claims they have stepped up enforcement, yet identifying distracted drivers in real-time is a challenge. Unlike speed enforcement, which can be verified with radar, proving someone was texting or scrolling on their phone is much harder. Without clear evidence, how many incidents are being misclassified as simple driver error or reckless driving?

Fines and Public Awareness—A Money Grab?

The financial impact of the law is notable. Fines start at $150 and can climb to $500, with doubled penalties in work zones. The insurance consequences are even steeper—NerdWallet reports that an at-fault crash due to distracted driving can raise a driver’s insurance costs by $1,110 per year.

Meanwhile, over 25,000 drivers have taken Ohio’s online distracted-driving safety course, a requirement to reduce fines and avoid points. While education is valuable, it also raises the question: Is this about public safety or just another revenue stream for the state?

Who’s Really Driving Distracted?

Data shows that younger male drivers—especially those 35 or younger—account for 63% of distracted driving crashes. But is this an actual representation of who’s driving distracted, or just who gets caught?

It’s also notable that most crashes happen on 35 MPH roads, not high-speed highways. Does this suggest that slow-moving traffic in urban areas leads to more casual phone use? Or does it indicate that distractions are only considered a problem when they lead to obvious collisions?

The Bigger Picture

No one disputes that distracted driving is dangerous. But the real question is whether Ohio’s law is truly the reason for the recent safety improvements or if other factors—such as general road safety initiatives, technological advancements in vehicles, or even post-pandemic driving habits—are playing a larger role.

The state’s push for enforcement and public awareness is commendable, but skepticism remains. Are we actually changing driver behavior, or are we just seeing a temporary drop in reported incidents? More importantly, if distracted driving remains such a widespread issue, is the law really as effective as officials claim?

One thing is certain: the debate over how best to tackle distracted driving is far from settled.

Ohio Senate Bill 114 (SB 114) is a legislative proposal introduced in 2025 aimed at prohibiting law enforcement agencies from implementing quotas for arrests and citations. This bill seeks to ensure that officers are not evaluated, disciplined, or compensated based on meeting specific numerical targets for arrests or tickets. Additionally, it would forbid agencies from offering financial incentives tied to such quotas. 

The bill has garnered bipartisan support and endorsements from various law enforcement organizations, including the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and the Ohio State Troopers Association. Proponents argue that eliminating quotas will help restore public trust in law enforcement and refocus efforts on genuine public safety concerns. 

To enforce the ban, SB 114 proposes that officers can anonymously report quota practices to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which would have up to one year to investigate and issue a cease and desist order if violations are found. 

As of April 2025, SB 114 has passed through the Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting further consideration. 

 Most of this is sourced from the Columbus dispatch and ohiotownships.org