Don’t just glance past us—LOOK for motorcycles! Those slogans like “Check Twice – Save a Life,” “Share the Road,” and “Drive Aware, Show You Care” weren’t just catchy phrases—they were hard truths. Riders have been invisible to too many drivers for too damn long, even before everyone got glued to their phones.
Fed up with the disrespect and reckless ignorance on the roads, Motorcycle Rights Organizations across the country roared into action. They started pushing for laws that slap careless drivers with real fines and penalties when their negligence puts bikers in the hospital—or worse. These “Right-of-Way” laws are now rolling out in state after state, ready to hold distracted drivers accountable when they mess with our lane and our lives.
Then came cell phones, and things went from bad to worse. Drivers already had trouble paying attention, but now they’ve got a glowing screen glued to their faces, making the road a damn minefield for riders.
When “distracted driving” hit the headlines over a decade ago, it was all about people making calls or firing off texts behind the wheel. The so-called fix? Tech to keep their hands on the wheel. But fast forward to today, and the problem’s exploded. Now cars come loaded with Wi-Fi and apps that keep drivers scrolling and streaming instead of focusing on the road.
Safety experts are sounding the alarms: internet addiction on wheels has fueled a surge in highway deaths. After decades of progress, fatalities are climbing again—and climbing fast. According to the NHTSA, distracted driving has triggered the biggest jump in traffic deaths in half a century, and bikers are the ones paying the price for these reckless drivers.
As of October 29, 2018, the rules got tougher for distracted drivers—about damn time. House Bill 95 stepped in to lay down the law, expanding what counts as “distracted driving.” It’s no longer just about texting or fiddling with a phone.
Now, if a cop catches you doing anything behind the wheel that’s not essential to driving— anything that messes with your focus or could reasonably be expected to make you a hazard— you’re getting cited. Plain and simple. This legislation doesn’t play around, and it’s about holding reckless drivers accountable for making the roads unsafe for the rest of us.
The bill defines “distracted” as:
- – Using a handheld electronic wireless communications device – including phones, tablets and computers – except when it is on speakerphone or otherwise hands-free.
- – Any activity “that is not necessary to the operation of a vehicle” and could or does impair the driver.
Here’s the kicker: the bill doesn’t bother defining “necessary” or “impair,” leaving it wide open to interpretation. What’s clear is that things like chomping down on a burger, slapping onmakeup, fiddling with the radio, or setting your GPS while driving can get you slapped with distracted driving charges if they cause a crash.
Ohio’s HB 95, co-sponsored by State Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), cranks up the definition of “distracted” driving to cover anything that’s not necessary for driving and could mess with your ability to stay safe behind the wheel. Now, distracted driving is considered a secondary offense.
Here’s how it works: if you’re pulled over for something like speeding or another moving violation, and the cop sees you driving distracted, this law slaps an extra $100 fine on top—or you can take a distracted-driving safety course. But here’s the catch: they can only hit you with a distracted-driving charge if the officer catches you in the act while the moving violation’s happening.
Back in the day, they had to prove you were texting to nail you for it. Since 2012, texting and driving has been a secondary offense in Ohio. But HB95, passed with bipartisan support, goes further. Now it covers all forms of distracted driving, not just texting. And Ohio isn’t alone— similar laws are already cracking down in places like Connecticut, Maine, Washington, West Virginia, and D.C.
Rep. Jim Hughes (R-Upper Arlington), the bill’s co-sponsor, put it bluntly: “The enhanced penalty for distracted driving as proposed in House Bill 95 will help provide a deterrent to this reckless and dangerous activity. The goal? To save lives and make our roadways safer.” Hughes teamed up with the Ohio Department of Public Safety to make sure the enhanced penalties hit hard, but without adding points to your license or marking your driving record.
The NHTSA’s numbers are brutal: last year alone, 3,308 lives were lost and an estimated 289,310 people were injured in crashes caused by distracted drivers. That’s why the Ohio State Highway Patrol isn’t messing around—they’re launching a crackdown on distracted driving as part of a six-state effort. If you’re on Ohio’s roads, or crossing into neighboring states, consider yourself on notice.
So if you’re scarfing down a sandwich and swerve out of your lane, you could get nailed for both the lane violation and distracted driving. Same goes for fiddling with the radio and blowing through a stop sign—double the trouble.
“Distracted driving is reckless and dangerous,” said Colonel Paul A. Pride. “If you’re behind the wheel, you need to be completely focused on driving.” He’s not bluffing—the Patrol and their law enforcement partners in bordering states are dead serious about stopping this deadly behavior.
