COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--A new proposal at the Ohio statehouse would ban the use of a cell phone while driving.
State Representative Mary Lightbody unveiled the legislation Tuesday that would make the use of a cell phone behind the wheel a primary offense. Currently, it's a secondary offense, meaning law enforcement can write tickets for cell phone use only if a driver is pulled over for another reason, like speeding or running a red light.
Lightbody was approached more than a year ago by a constituent, Sharon Montgomery of Gahanna, who was in a car accident caused by a distracted driver.
Montgomery has become an expert on the issue, and served on Governor DeWine’s recent Task Force on Distracted Driving. She worked with Lightbody’s office to help develop the legislation.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, in 2018, distracted driving directly accounted for nearly 50-deaths across the state.