April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and as Ohio marks two years since the state’s “phones down” law took effect, the state is seeing improvements, but Logan County is still facing challenges.
Ohio’s hands-free law, signed into effect by Governor Mike DeWine in 2023, made it a primary offense to use or hold a handheld electronic device while driving.
This means law enforcement can stop drivers just for distracted driving.
Despite positive statewide results, Logan County is still experiencing problems with distracted driving.
According to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, there have been eight crashes in the county between October 2023 and February 2025 caused by distracted driving.
However, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) reports that statewide:
- 8% fewer crashes
- 3% fewer injuries
- 4% fewer fatalities related to distracted driving
Governor DeWine said, “We are seeing less distracted driving than before the law, but we still have work to do. Distracted-driving crashes are preventable.”
In 2024, there were 8,571 distracted driving crashes in Ohio, resulting in 29 deaths and 4,458 injuries.
Of those crashes:
- 36% occurred at intersections
- The most serious accidents happened on roads with speed limits of 55 MPH
Most distracted-driving crashes involve young drivers, especially males under 35.
Most crashes occur on roads with speed limits of 35 MPH, followed by those with 25 MPH and 55 MPH speed limits.
Distracted driving comes with a financial cost:
- Fines for using a phone while driving start at $150, and can increase to $500 for repeat offenders.
- Fines are doubled in work zones.
- Drivers involved in at-fault crashes can see their insurance rates rise by $1,110 a year.
But the human cost—the loss of life—is far greater.
Despite the improvements, OSHP Superintendent Colonel Charles A. Jones emphasizes that distracted driving is still a big issue.
“Ohio’s hands-free law is saving lives, but the responsibility starts with every driver. No distraction is worth the risk.”
Governor DeWine added, “Changing driving habits takes time, but the early results show we are moving in the right direction.”
