Weekly Roundup | Is Ohio distracted driving law enforced?

Welcome to the Weekly Roundup, where we bring you the top stories from today’s Dayton Daily News and major stories from the past week you may have missed.

This week, that includes a celebration of Dayton’s internationally acclaimed Black dance company, and our investigation into how local police departments are (or aren’t) enforcing Ohio’s driving-while-texting laws.

Do you have a news tip or an issue you think our reporters should look into? Contact me at [email protected], or you can use our anonymous tipline.

***

Local police issue few tickets for driving while texting

Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. Metro News Service photo

In 2023, Ohio lawmakers restricted what you can do on your cellphone while behind the wheel. A major part of the law gave police the ability to pull people over and issue citations if they are texting while driving.

Some background: The new law came on the heels of major concerns about distracted driving. A 2022 Dayton Daily News investigation found an increase in traffic fatalities and distracted driving in Ohio, including several local notable tragedies.

• Our investigation: Reporter Eric Schwartzberg obtained the most recent data available, showing the first full year of implementation. Read his full story here.

• Key takeaway: Local police are handing out few tickets under the driving while texting law. In fact, MetroParks rangers ranked fourth in the state – with 26 citations.

• Zero tickets: Nearly 150 law enforcement agencies across Ohio reported issuing zero tickets. This includes several large local agencies.

• Failure to report: Ohio law requires law enforcement agencies to report these numbers, including racial demographics, to the state. But Eric found nearly three-quarters of them did not.

• The data: How many tickets did your local police department issue? A graphic in Eric’s story has the numbers for every agency in our area. If your local agency isn’t on the list, they either reported zero or didn’t report.

• BIG exception: The Ohio State Highway Patrol takes driving while texting seriously. Of the 5,860 citations issued statewide during the law’s first year, OSHP troopers issued 5,366 of them.

• Results: State officials say their enforcement efforts are working. OSHP in October announced a nearly 20% decrease in fatalities related to distracted driving on areas they patrol, and more than 1,100 fewer distraction-related crashes across the state.

• The law: To understand what the law allows and doesn’t allow, I wrote this story that includes a video demonstration of myself using a driving simulator (very poorly).

DCDC spotlights ‘Power & Presence’ of Black female voices

From left: Dancers Qarrianne Blayr, Niarra Gooden-Clarke, Alexandria Flewellen, Nicolay Dorsett and Sadale Warner in "huMAN/NAture," choreographed by Countess V. Winfrey. Photo by Scott Robbins.

Credit: Scott Robbins

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company is a cultural gem to the Dayton community. As our Black History Month coverage continues, reporter Russell Florence Jr. previews a spectacular upcoming performance and looks back on DCDC’s history.

• DCDC: Rooted in the Black experience, the internationally acclaimed troupe offers the largest repertoire of modern dance works by African-American choreographers in the world.

• History: In 1968, during the height of the civil rights movement, Jeraldyne Blunden founded DCDC, the oldest modern dance company in Ohio. In 2023, the International Association of Blacks in Dance, of which DCDC is one of five founding companies, was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Joe Biden.

• Present: Amplifying the camaraderie, creativity, strength and vision of Black female choreographers is the foundation of DCDC’s presentation of “Power & Presence,” slated March 1 and 2 at the Victoria Theatre.

• Quote: “This program leans heavily on who DCDC is and our stories,” said DCDC Chief Executive and Artistic Director Debbie Blunden-Diggs, daughter of DCDC’s founder. “This company was founded by a Black woman and is still led by a Black woman — that’s magical and it’s powerful. And this is going to be an extraordinary program.”

• Full story: Go here for Russell’s full story, including the choreographers and dancers explaining their inspirations, and details on how to attend the show.