COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's been more than six months since law enforcement across Ohio began enforcing the state's distracted driving law. It's starting to have an impact on young drivers and their insurance rates.
Local insurance agents say they're seeing more young drivers have minor violations for distracted driving on their record, but they believe the consequences that come with it are not harsh enough.
Megan Brooks, an executive insurance agent with Comparison Insurance, says the financial, legal and insurance ramifications for distracted driving should be on par with the penalties for driving under the influence.
"The financial, legal and insurance ramifications for a DUI are so severe, versus a distracted driving violation. It just slows down your response time and you're not paying attention" Brooks said.
Brooks said right now if you get caught texting and driving, it's typically around a $200 to $300 increase on your insurance. She believes if these financial penalties were more harsh, younger drivers would take the consequences more seriously.
"If more insurance companies take sort of a harder stance and make those distracted driving violations more punitive, I think you should see sort of a decrease," said Brooks.
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