6-State Trooper Project to Focus on Distracted Driving Enforcement

COLUMBUS – In recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will be joining forces with other members of the 6-State Trooper Project to enforce distracted driving laws during the first week of April.

The initiative will began at 12:01 a.m. Monday April 1 and will continue through Monday, April 8 at 11:59 p.m.

The campaign will include the Indiana State Police, Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police and West Virginia State Police.

The enforcement initiative will be focusing primarily on violations of driving while texting, use of devices under 18, distracted driving enhancement and federal motor carrier.

In October 2023, new distracted driving laws became enforceable in Ohio. In the final three months of the year, troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol issued 3,575 citations for distracted driving violations. This is a 119% increase from 2022.

Ohio also saw 28 distracted-driving-related fatal crashes in 2023, the lowest total over the last five years.