NEW BILL TRIES TO CURB DISTRACTED DRIVING

BY GRACE KELLEY

In the state of Ohio, the concern of whether or not distracted driving laws need to be updated has been a debate for some time. Fortunately, Senate Bill 288(SB288) was recently passed. This bill has altered the circumstances for which an individual can be pulled over. SB288 has sparked some controversy within the state, leaving some to ask if this new bill is really going to do the job.

There is a statistic that surfaced recently, discussing texting and driving. MillerandZois.com states that “58% of crashes involving teenagers were caused by driver distraction.” In today’s day and age, it can be assumed that the 58% has to do with technology or texting while driving. Technology has evolved at an exponential rate in the past fifteen years and it does not seem to be slowing down. New technology is advertised almost every day, meaning more technological distractions are becoming available. Because of this, SB288’s implementation is reasonable.

At this point, questions about the contents of the bill may be arising. In simple terms, the bill states that anyone that is seen holding a phone and/or oth - er electronic devices while operating a motorized vehicle can immediately be pulled over. This includes texting, taking pictures, and scrolling on social media while driving. There are some exceptions to this bill, such as emergency calls and using a device while one’s car is stopped at a red light. Still, it is smart to avoid using an electronic device while sitting in the driver's seat unless your vehicle is parked. At the end of the day, this bill is being implemented to eliminate distracted driving in Ohio.

Some drivers in Ohio are unaware of the passing of SB288 and the fact that it applies to everyone driving in the state of Ohio. This means that someone passing through Ohio can be pulled over for any signs of distracted driving. This implementation is helping keep Ohio roadways, as well as Ohio’s citizens, safe.

Distracted driving is a real-world problem that has to be faced and dealt with on a day-to-day basis. No one wants to contribute to a statistic of distracted driving fatalities. To assure safe driving, always keep your eyes on the road and be alert!