These Ohio drivers could now face 30-day jail sentences for this unlawful driving behavior. This past year has seen states across the country introduce a variety of new driving legislation that cracks down on drivers and road users who continue to not follow the laws of the road. While harsher penalties and convictions are not always the most effective solution to making the roads safer, these increases in penalties showcase a zero-tolerance approach to those who continue to threaten the safety of others.
Harsher penalties and convictions to keep the roads safe
The major problem with enforcing safe driving practices and ensuring that all drivers are following the laws of the road is that it relies on drivers to take on a personal responsibility to view all unlawful driving practices as a danger to not just their own safety, but the safety of others. While some driving behaviors, such as driving under the influence, are rightly stigmatized and taken seriously by most drivers, others are regularly broken and not considered as dangerous.
Distracted driving is a major challenge for authorities to combat, with cellphone usage while behind the wheel being the biggest perpetrator of the behavior. Despite using a cellphone when driving being illegal in many states, drivers continue to use their phone when driving, whether it is to pass the time in traffic or to multitask by answering calls and responding to messages, and emails when travelling.
However, even taking your eyes off the road for a second can have significant repercussions. It is important that you are always alert and aware when on the road in order to respond quickly to other drivers and maintain legal driving conduct. Speeding is another driving behavior that authorities regularly have to increase associated penalties for these convictions, thanks to this behavior still not being taken seriously by drivers.
30-day jail sentences on the line for Ohio drivers
In line with the recent efforts across the country to enforce safe driving behavior, Ohio House Bill 492 is currently being considered by lawmakers. This bill, if passed, would make it a fourth-degree misdemeanor for refusing to identify yourself during a traffic stop, with 30-day jail sentences for drivers convicted of this behavior.
“Not cooperating shouldn’t be treated like a minor inconvenience,” Rep. Sharon Ray, a Wadsworth Republican, said regarding the bill.
When drivers refuse to identify themselves at traffic stops, it puts traffic authorities in a difficult position, whereby they are unsure whether or not they are speaking with a criminal or not who does not want to be identified. The bill has not yet been passed and remains under consideration. If passed, police would be able to arrest Ohio drivers at a traffic stop for this behavior.
Expanding driving interventions to keep the roads safe
In addition to increased penalties and changing legislation to keep the road safe, authorities must not only rely on this avenue to enforce safe driving conduct. On top of legislation, maintaining drivable roads with proper signage helps drivers to make informed and legal driving decisions. On top of maintaining the roads, authorities should continue to provide educational interventions that assist in making drivers more aware of how their actions can affect other drivers, as opposed to only punishing illegal behavior.
With a variety of pilot programs seen across the country going into effect to test more novel approaches to promote safe driving, it promotes a safer driving environment for all, whereby authorities do not only address these problems through punishment. Instead, these interventions emphasise education and reformation in order to enforce more sustainable change and assist drivers in changing their attitudes towards the laws of the road and enforce personal responsibility.
