Ohio Governor Created Distracted Driving Advisory Council

The Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, announced the creation of a Distracted Driving Advisory Council in April of 2019. The new, permanent advisory council will be tasked with developing long-standing plans to alter the culture regarding distracted driving in Ohio and follows the release of a report by the Ohio Distracted Driving Task Force. The task force was developed in 2018 by the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), to investigate the scope of the problem of distracted driving on Ohio’s roads and make suggestions for improvement.

The Distracted Driving Task Force released a detailed report with key findings, statistics, contributing factors to the problem of distracted driving, and a review of current Ohio traffic laws. One key finding states that at the time of the report in 2019, Ohio had experienced an increase in car accidents and fatalities four consecutive years since 2013. Additionally, car accidents in Ohio have increased by 7% and traffic fatalities increased by 17% in the same time period. 

Contributing Factors for Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a big problem in Ohio, with the use of smartphones believed to be a contributing factor. Young drivers between the age of 16 and 20 had the highest number of car accidents in Ohio due to distracted driving, followed by people in the age range of 21 to 25. Additional key findings in the report conclude that:

• Technology causes Ohioans to become more distracted behind the wheel

• Smartphones and mobile phones are more dangerous than other distractions

• Drivers continue to look at devices when driving because they are addictive

• Distracted driving impacts car insurance rates

• Tough laws and enforcement are required to change driver behavior

If you have been injured in a car accident in Ohio due to distracted driving, you need an experienced car accident attorney who understands current Ohio traffic laws.

Schiff & Associates is experienced in representing victims of automobile accidents, personal injury and wrongful death cases. We have helped people in Ohio since 1982 with a team of experienced attorneys, investigators and medical experts. Contact us today to speak with Ohio’s top car accident attorney.

Source: https://governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/governor/media/news-and-media/042519