Ohio Forms Distracted Driving Council

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently announced the formation of the Distracted Driving Advisory Council whose mission is to change the distracted driving culture across the state and help reduce crashes, reports the Associated Press.

The council's creation comes on the heels of a report by the Ohio Distracted Driving Task Force, which recommended changes in state policy and state law to help lower collisions in Ohio. The report also recommended enhanced distracted driving education for young drivers, reports the AP.

Between 2013 and 2018, there were nearly 80,000 crashes that involved distracted driving in the state, according to Ohio Department of Transportation data. Distracted driving collisions were responsible for some 268 fatalities and approximately 3,000 injuries in Ohio.

Distracted driving remains one of the nation's most pressing roadway problems., claiming over 3,100 lives in 2017 alone, notes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.