COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – It’s been one calendar year since a state law was enacted which prohibits Ohioans from using a cell phone while driving and the results are in: cashes are down. According to a release from the office of Gov. Mike DeWine, distracted driving crashes have decreased by over 1,100 incidents, which includes a 19.4 percent drop in fatalities due to distracted driving. When is the next court date for accused drunk driver in Gaudreau brothers’ death? Preliminary data issued by the Ohio State Highway Patrol states that there were approximately 1,112 fewer distracted driving crashes from Oct. 5, 2023, when the law became enforceable, to Oct. 4, 2024. “If you’re observed distracted behind the wheel, unfortunately, you’re getting a citation,” Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Ray Santiago said. “But that's a lot better than us either taking a crash statement at a hospital or going to visit your family to say you’re not coming home because of a poor decision.”  The Governor’s office said that the impact of the new law is also reflected in the overall decrease in crashes in Ohio, supporting the theory that drivers don't always admit to driving distracted before a collision. “This is exactly what we expected would happen,” said DeWine. “Ohio's tougher distracted driving law is influencing better behavior behind the wheel, leading to fewer crashes and fewer deaths.” Worthington café to appear on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ The OSHP data shows that during the same timeframe, from Oct. 5, 2023, to Oct. 4, 2024, there were nearly 15,400 fewer motor vehicle crashes, including 1,347 fewer injuries, compared to the 12 months prior. The total number of traffic fatalities also dropped with 138 fewer people killed. (Courtesy/Ohio State Highway Patrol) “We always want to trend towards zero crashes, zero deaths," Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson Morgan Eibel said. "That is always the goal for us, but we’re making headway at this point.”  “It's extremely dangerous for not just the driver but everyone around you, so even just a moment could be deadly," Santiago said. Under Ohio's new law, using a cell phone or other electronic wireless communications device is considered a primary traffic offense for all drivers, allowing law enforcement to pull over a distracted driver immediately when it witnesses a violation. First-time offenders are subject to a $150 fine and two points assessed to their driver’s license. Fines and points increase for repeated violations. The proposed bill was signed into law by DeWine in Jan. 2023 as part of an extensive criminal justice reform bill. “Distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving is, and we need to treat it that way,” DeWine said in January. Worthington café to appear on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ Under the new law, actively texting, scrolling on social media, or watching a video while driving a car could earn someone a ticket and result in the following fines:   First offense: $150 Second offense: $250 Three offenses (within two years): $500 The OSHP data is also supported by an April report that showed a “notable” decrease in distracted driving in Ohio based on a study by Cambridge Mobile Telematics. CMT tracked “phone motion events,” which occur when a driver handles their phone with the screen on while the vehicle is moving over 9.3 mph. The April study found an 8.6% decrease in distracted driving in Ohio since the distracted driving law took effect. An estimated 3,600 crashes, 2,000 injuries, 17 fatalities and $144 million in economic damages were prevented due to the reduction in distracted driving, according to CMT. “The data clearly shows the law is working, but we need to convince more Ohioans to put down their phones while driving,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. Additional data released by the OSHP showed that fatalities were at near-record lows over the 2023 Thanksgiving and Christmas periods, while distracted driving citations rose significantly. 1.2-million-square-foot global warehouse for American clothing company opens in Obetz Over the past five years, there have been over 57,000 distracted driving-related crashes in Ohio. Of those, 56,000 crashes were due to a distraction from within the vehicle and over 16,000 resulted in a serious injury or fatality, according to Public Affairs Unit Sergeant with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Tyler Ross.  People said they still see drivers using their phones while behind the wheel. "I will definitely see people on their phones a lot and, like, driving," Columbus resident Paige Faverty said. "I'll be walking my dog and I'll see cars driving by and they're on their phones." Troopers said they know it's still happening, too. "So we know there's still work to be done, even with this encouraging news coming out today," Santiago said..”