(Findlay, OH) The Ohio Highway Patrol wants you to keep your eyes-- and focus-- on the road.
There were just under 14,000 distracted driving-related crashes last year statewide, including 26 fatal crashes. The number of distracted drivers is up five percent from 2015, according to state troopers. That's a smaller increase from the year before-- 11 percent-- but the Ohio highway patrol is rolling out a public awareness campaign this month, hoping to cut down on texting and driving.
Sending or receiving a text message can take a driver's eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds-- ot the length of a football field-- when traveling 55 miles per hour.
Using a smartphone or other device while driving is banned for minors, but only a secondary offense for adults.