Distracted Driving Bill 288 | Photo by Hannah Carson | The Wright State Guardian
Senate Bill 288 on distracted driving laws will go into effect in Ohio on April 4, having an impact on Ohioans and Wright State University commuters.
What is Bill 288?
According to a government press release on Jan. 3, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed bill 288 to strengthen distracted driving laws in Ohio.
Katie Wright, a police officer at Wright State University, explained that, although the bill takes effect on April 4, there will be a six-month grace period.
According to DeWine’s press release, a driver may use a device in specific circumstances, including swiping to answer a call, holding a phone to the ear, and talking when parked or stopped at a red light.
The bill in effect on campus
This bill now makes distracted driving a primary offense, according to Wright.
“Before, we had to wait until they ran the stop sign while they were distracted. Now, we will be able to immediately pull someone over,” Wright said.
Wright explained that after the six-month grace period, citations for distracted driving could be a $150 fine.
“We are going to respond to it like every other driving infraction. If we see something, we will do something. We will be monitoring traffic just like we do anywhere at any other time,” Wright said.
Wright emphasized the importance this bill will have on keeping the campus a safe environment, especially for those walking, skateboarding or biking.
Safety in Greene County
According to a Greene County Public Health press release, April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. On March 30, the Greene County Safety Communities Coalition joined the “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All” campaign to decrease distracted driving.
WSU Director of Public Safety Kurt Holden announced that there will be distracted driving training courses for campus, which students can find in the WINGS portal, coming in the next few weeks.
The next informational session part of the Campus Safety Series is about drug and alcohol safety, which the WSU Department of Safety will hold every Tuesday at 1 p.m. from April 4 to April 25 via WebEx.
