Ohio · Handbook chapter 3 · 4 min read
Chapter 3: Be alert
Ohio's rules on vision, fatigue, aggressive and distracted driving, the hand-held phone law for drivers 18 and older, the total device ban under 18, and how alcohol and drugs affect a driver.
Why this chapter matters
Ohio's distracted driving law has clear penalties and a different rule for drivers under 18, which makes it a favorite test topic. Know the 2, 3 and 4 points, the $150, $250 and $500 fines, and the 60-day and one-year suspensions for young drivers.
Vision and fatigue
- Have your eyes checked regularly. If you passed the vision screening with glasses or contacts, your license shows a restriction and you must always wear them to drive.
- Avoid dark or tinted lenses at night.
- Fatigue is physical or mental tiredness. It can come from strain, repetitive tasks, illness, medicine or lack of sleep, and it harms your vision and slows your reactions.
Aggressive driving
Aggressive driving means deliberately doing something that puts people or property in danger. Examples: speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes, poor signaling, and ignoring signals and warning signs.
Distracted driving
A distraction is anything that takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road or your mind off driving: phone calls, texting, arguments with passengers, eating, loose pets or children. Driving distracted is illegal in Ohio.
Drivers 18 and older
- In most cases you may not use, hold or support a phone or other wireless device while driving. An officer who sees it can stop you.
- You may use hands-free calling and other features as long as you do not hold the device or type letters, numbers or symbols. You may switch features on or off with a single touch or swipe.
- Exceptions include calling police, a hospital, fire department or other emergency service; holding the phone to your ear during a call started with one touch; using the phone while stopped at a light or parked during an emergency or road closure; and on-duty first responders.
| Offense within two years | Points | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| First | 2 | $150 (a distracted driving course can avoid the fine and points) |
| Second | 3 | $250 |
| Third or more | 4 | $500, and a possible 90-day suspension |
Fines are doubled in a work zone.
Drivers under 18
- You may not use any electronic device while driving, even hands-free, and not even while waiting at a light or in a traffic jam.
- Exceptions: using a device for navigation, or calling emergency services.
- It is a primary offense: police can stop you for it alone.
- First violation: 60-day suspension and a $150 fine. Second: one-year suspension and a $300 fine.
Alcohol, drugs and driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in Ohio, and even legal prescription or over-the-counter medicine can affect your driving.
- Vision: blurred sight, poorer focus and worse judgment of distance and speed.
- Reaction time: you take longer to process what you see and respond.
- Judgment: you notice less and make quick decisions badly.
Chapter 6 covers the legal limits and penalties.
Frequently asked questions
Can I talk on the phone while driving in Ohio?
If you are 18 or older, only hands-free, and you may not hold or type on the device. Under 18, you may not use any device at all, even hands-free, except for navigation or an emergency call.
What is the penalty for a first distracted driving offense by an adult?
2 points and a fine of up to $150, which a distracted driving course can help you avoid.
What happens to a driver under 18 caught using a phone?
A 60-day suspension and a $150 fine the first time; a one-year suspension and a $300 fine the second time.
Is aggressive driving the same as road rage?
The Digest defines aggressive driving as deliberately endangering people or property, for example by speeding, tailgating or unsafe lane changes.
Based on the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 3 (Ohio Department of Public Safety).