Distracted driving is widespread and deadly in the United States. In 2023 alone, 3,275 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers.

What Is Distracted Driving?

Ohio has seen its share of distracted driving tragedies. As of April 21, 2025, the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s distracted driving dashboard reported 52,938 distracted crashes since 2020. And 1,579 of those crashes resulted in death or serious injury.

Distracted driving is anything that makes your attention wander when you’re behind the wheel, such as eating and drinking, adjusting the GPS or fixing your hair. But mobile phone use – texting, talking and using social media – is by far the most common distraction.

Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it involves so many aspects of your attention: Your eyes are pulled away from the road, you’re thinking about what to write rather than how you’re driving, and you’re taking at least one hand off the wheel to text.

And in Ohio, using your phone while driving is against the law. It’s illegal to use or hold a cell phone or electronic device in your hand, lap or other parts of the body while driving on Ohio roads. If an officer sees a violation, they can pull you over.

What Can You Do?

Here are tips for keeping your attention on the road.

Stay focused. Don’t let anything take your attention away from driving. As you navigate, you should regularly check your mirrors, actively scan the road and watch out for pedestrians and cyclists.

Store your phone out of sight. If you can’t see, hear or access your phone, you’re much less likely to be tempted to use it while driving. If you have a passenger, you can ask them to be the “designated texter” if you must reach someone while you’re on the road.

Set your navigation before leaving. Don’t wait until you’re on the road to program the GPS. Make sure everything is set before you shift your vehicle out of park.

Get ready before you leave. It’s tempting to steal a few minutes by fixing your hair or putting on makeup in the car, but it’s not worth risking your life or anyone else’s.

Stop in a safe place for meals and snacks. Better yet, eat before or after your trip. If you’re on a long drive, make the time to stop and eat. You’ll avoid a mess in your vehicle – and keep everyone safe.

Sources:
American Automobile Association
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Ohio Department of Transportation
Ohio State Highway Patrol