Ohio Lawmakers Seek to Prevent Road Worker Deaths with New Bill

‍Ohio lawmakers are taking action to curb deaths and injuries in construction zones by introducing a bill that mandates a driving safety course for those who speed or crash in these areas.

“Speeding, distracted driving, even glancing at your phone for a moment, can be deadly,” said Thurston Voisine, an instructor at DriveTeam. “The eyes are everything when it comes to driving.”

As of 2025, Ohio has already seen about 150 car crash fatalities, with work zone fatalities soaring by nearly 150% from 2023 to 2024, increasing from nine to 22. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) also reported nearly 1.3 million work zone crashes since 2020, leading to more than 8,000 injuries and 101 deaths, most of which involve ODOT workers.

A new bill, H.B. 82, introduced by State Reps. Gary Click and Mark Johnson, aims to address this issue. The bill would not only increase penalties for violating traffic laws in work zones, but also require offenders to complete a driving safety course. Failure to do so could result in a $400 fine.

“The goal of this bill is to educate people, because they often breeze by construction zones without thinking,” said Rep. Click. The bill proposes escalating penalties for repeat offenders, including more driving training, fines, and potential license suspensions for subsequent violations.

Rep. Juanita Brent, D-Cleveland, questioned the need for this bill, pointing out existing safety regulations, but Click explained that the focus of this bill is education, not just fines. Additionally, the bill proposes that ODOT could install video cameras in construction zones to monitor safety, though these cameras would be used for investigative purposes, not for issuing speeding tickets.

Voisine, a driving instructor with 18 years of experience, emphasized the importance of continuous education in driving. “I’m still learning and improving my skills,” he said. “It’s important for everyone, no matter their experience level.”

The bill is still under review and will continue to be debated in the coming months, as lawmakers work toward reducing work zone fatalities and improving road safety.

Originally reported by Morgan Trau in Ohio Capital Journal.