Earlier today, the Ohio Chamber offered written proponent testimony on House Bill 283. HB 283 would prohibit the use of an electronic wireless communication device (EWCD). HB 283 would make the use of EWCD while operating a motor vehicle a primary offense. Ohio is only one of four states to not make using an EWCD while operating a motor vehicle a primary traffic offense for all drivers. Despite the fact that over the last five years (2016-2020), 66,000 crashes and 212 fatalities have been caused by distracted drivers. It is time for Ohio to join the other 46 states and change the culture of distracted driving.

Public Opinion Strategies recently conducted a poll of 1,000 licensed drivers in Ohio. Distracted driving is the most worrisome issue for these Ohio drivers. And these drivers observe distracted driving more than 50% of the time while they are driving. And the poll found that support for a new law to deal with distracted driving caused by an EWCD is at 78%, with 45% of respondents strongly supporting this new law.

HB 283 is an important first step to begin the process of changing the culture, or norm, that currently exists. HB 283 will help to keep Ohioans safer as they share the road with others who are currently using an EWCD while operating a vehicle. Distracted driving accidents caused by hand-held EWCDs are 100% preventable. Preventing these accidents will in turn stop the tragedy of an early, and preventable death for Ohio motorists and pedestrians.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce supports the passage of HB 283 as the first step in the public campaign to make hand-held EWCD usage unacceptable in Ohio. It is important that we all work to make the roads safer to use so that all commuters, road construction workers, and those that depend on the roads for their livelihoods return home safely at the end of the workday.