GAHANNA, Ohio — Sharon Montgomery of Gahanna knows how dangerous distracted driving can be.
It’s been nearly 24 years since she and her husband John were on their way home from celebrating his birthday, and encountered another driver on his cellphone.
Montgomery was seriously injured, and her husband passed away in the ICU six weeks later.
“I thought 'Oh my God, what? What did he have to say that was so important that he had to do all this damage? Undoubtedly nothing,” she said.
When she sees drivers using their phones while driving, she hopes they see the many stickers and magnets decorating her car, that warn drivers of the risks.
“It is not worth the risk, it is not important enough,” Montgomery said.
Since her husband’s death, Montgomery has been advocating for stronger laws against distracted driving, and protections for victims.
New distracted driving laws have been enforced in Ohio since October. Law enforcement can now pull people over for using their phones as a primary offense, and drivers could face fines and points against their licenses.
The City of Gahanna is taking the new law even further.
A recently passed ordinance makes a first offense for texting while driving, a minor misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of a $150 fine and 30 hours of community service.
A second offense within two years is considered a fourth degree misdemeanor, and carries a maximum penalty of a $250 fine, 30 days in jail and 200 hours of community service. A third offense, within two years, is now a third-degree misdemeanor, and carries a maximum penalty of a $500 fine, 60 days in jail and 200 hours of community service.
“If you think about it, we consider distracted driving akin to drunk driving so people are pretty familiar with the penalties and they are fairly significant for drunk driving,” said Lt. Ethan Moffitt with the Gahanna Police Department. “This is just recognizing the distracted behavior on your phone can be just as dangerous as driving while impaired.”
April is also Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the city. The city is offering free stickers at City Hall and encouraging drivers to join them in their campaign against distracted driving.
“I think we are encouraged you know that the publics attention on the dangers of distracted driving is growing there is more public awareness of this that is a good thing for public safety,” Lt. Moffitt said.