Ohio Handheld Phone Ban Works: 300 Crashes Prevented In Three Weeks

The world’s largest telematics service provider has released an analysis on distracted driving levels in Ohio, just three weeks after the state enacted a handheld phone ban.

Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) research shows that since the handheld ban came into effect on April 4, the rate of phone motion distraction has decreased by just over 8%.

CMT has reported that for every 10% decrease in distracted driving, the crash rate reduces by 1.4%. Therefore, CMT estimates that the 8% reduction in distraction in Ohio since April 4 has prevented over 300 crashes, one fatality, and $8 million in economic damages.

CMT has measured the impact of hands-free legislation across eight other states since 2018. On average, states have seen a 16% reduction in phone motion distraction in the week following the law’s implementation compared to the month before. This impact fades to 13% after three months. However, by the end of 2022, the phone motion rate across the eight states was 3% higher compared to the month before the law.

Auto insurers use phone motion in usage-based insurance pricing to assess risk, which can impact a driver’s premium.

Check out CMT’s 2023 report, The State of Distracted Driving in 2023 & the Future of Road Safety, for more information.