{"id":51,"date":"2026-10-30T21:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T03:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solidinsurance.com\/blog\/?p=51"},"modified":"2026-10-26T21:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T03:40:48","slug":"ohios-hands-free-driving-law-and-your-auto-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solidinsurance.com\/blog\/ohios-hands-free-driving-law-and-your-auto-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio\u2019s Hands-Free Driving Law and Your Auto Claim"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since April 4, 2023, holding or using a phone while driving has been a primary offense in Ohio, which means an officer can pull you over for that reason alone. The six-month warning period ended in October 2023, and citations are now part of everyday traffic enforcement around Columbus. Ohio’s version of a hands-free law has a few twists that surprise drivers, and those details can matter after a crash.<\/p>\n

What Adult Drivers Can and Can’t Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Generally Allowed for Drivers 18 and Older<\/th>\nGenerally Not Allowed While Driving<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Speakerphone, earpieces, and vehicle Bluetooth systems<\/td>\nTyping or sending a text by hand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Holding a phone to your ear for a call started or ended with a single touch or swipe<\/td>\nDialing a phone number by hand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Using a phone while stopped at a red light or parked<\/td>\nBrowsing social media or the internet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Navigation or music started before driving, or adjusted with a single touch<\/td>\nWatching, recording, or streaming video<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calling to report an emergency<\/td>\nVideo calls<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Stricter Rules for Teens<\/h3>\n

Drivers under 18 can’t use a phone at all while driving, even in hands-free mode.<\/p>\n

Where the Law Meets Your Auto Claim<\/h2>\n

Can phone use affect fault?<\/h3>\n

Yes. Evidence that a driver was using a phone at the time of a crash can weigh heavily in fault decisions. Under Ohio’s modified comparative fault rule, a driver found more than 50% at fault generally can’t recover damages from others.<\/p>\n

Does a citation change my coverage?<\/h3>\n

A distracted driving citation doesn’t usually change how your current policy responds to a covered claim, but violations can affect how insurers view a driver over time.<\/p>\n

What coverage helps most?<\/h3>\n

Liability protects others if you’re at fault. Collision repairs your car regardless of fault, and uninsured motorist coverage can help when a distracted driver who hits you lacks enough insurance.<\/p>\n

Solid Insurance in Columbus, OH can review your auto insurance<\/a> and help families with new drivers. Policy terms vary. Drivers across Columbus, OH and Central Ohio can reach out to Solid Insurance<\/a> or browse our insurance blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since April 4, 2023, holding or using a phone while driving has been a primary offense in Ohio, which means an officer can pull you over for that reason alone. The six-month warning period ended in October 2023, and citations are now part of everyday traffic enforcement around Columbus. Ohio’s version of a hands-free law […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[20,15,14],"class_list":["post-51","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-auto-insurance","tag-auto-insurance","tag-columbus","tag-solid-insurance"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t