OH:  Ohio puts focus on distracted driving

OH:  Ohio puts focus on distracted driving

Record-Courier

By R-C Staff Report

April 4, 2018

Local law enforcement and departments around the state are focused on distracted driving this month — whether it’s texting while driving or driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and multiple Portage County police departments have partnered with AT&T as part of the “It Can Wait” movement, encouraging drivers to not text while driving or read texts sent to them while driving. 

On Tuesday, the Hiram Police Department, AAA and Hiram College combined to host a “Buzzed Driving” event to teach college and high school students about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. 

During the Buzzed Driving event, students attempted to play putt-putt golf, video games and simply to walk a straight line in the “Drunk Buster” goggles and “Marijuana Goggles” provided by police, which simulate intoxication by alcohol and marijuana. 

Also in Northeastern Ohio, the highway patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation are teaming up to create the state’s first “Distracted Driving Safety Corridor.” 

The corridor, along Interstate 76 and the Ohio Turnpike in Trumbull and Mahoning counties — from Route 534 in the west to Route 193 in the east — will be an area of increased focus for reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities, ODOT and the highway patrol said Tuesday. 

ODOT signs in the corridor will alert motorists of the high enforcement area. Signs will also be placed throughout the corridor reminding motorists of the dangers of distracted driving. 

Troopers will also hand out the “If You Think You’re a Multitasker, You’re Wrong” pamphlet on traffic stops. The posts will use federal grants to supplement patrols along the corridor. 

About 100,000 crashes each year nationwide involve drivers who are texting and not paying attention to the road. These can cause serious injuries and deaths, according to the highway patrol and ODOT. 

“Distracted driving crashes are preventable crashes,” ODOT Director Jerry Wray said. “While many people realize the dangers of being distracted behind the wheel, too many Ohioans continue to take their focus away from driving.” 

Troopers are reminding drivers to keep their eyes and focus on the roadway while driving. Last year, nearly 14,000 crashes in the state resulted from a reported distraction, including 51 fatal crashes. From 2016 to 2017, the number of fatal crashes due to distracted drivers nearly doubled, the highway patrol said. 

According to the patrol, sending or receiving a text message takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field when traveling at 55 mph. 

Ohio law bans all electronic wireless communication device usage for drivers under 18. Texting while driving is illegal for all drivers as a secondary offense, which means officers, deputies and troopers may not stop a vehicle simply because the driver is seen texting, but must cite another offense as the reason for the stop. 

Troopers say distracted driving is any non-driving activity with the potential to distract a person from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. 

Distractions can be visual, taking eyes off of the road; manual, taking hands off the wheel; or cognitive, taking the mind off driving.