Anyone who travels a roadway in Ohio should understand Ohio traffic laws. These laws were written to help traffic move efficiently and safely. In this post we’ll look at some of the specifics that every Ohio driver should know.
Understanding Ohio Traffic Laws
Traffic laws provide everyone with the same basic understanding of how to behave on a roadway. The laws tell us what to do, and just as importantly, what to expect from others. Unfortunately not everyone follows them.
There are four main reasons why someone might not follow an Ohio traffic law.
- They are in an emergency situation
- They weren’t aware of the law.
- The driver was aware of the law but didn’t understand how to follow it.
- The driver was aware of the law but chose not to follow it.
Not following an Ohio traffic law correctly can be dangerous and expensive. You could end up paying fines, court fees, damages, increased insurance premiums and more. Following Ohio traffic laws can save you money, prevent accidents, and save lives.
Ohio Seat Belt Laws
Since 2019, 61% of everyone who died in an auto accident in Ohio was not wearing a seatbelt. Wearing one is not only the safe thing to do, it’s the law. The first thing you should do when getting into a car in Ohio is put on your seat belt. There are different seat belt laws in Ohio, based on where you are sitting.
Front seat
- Anyone sitting in the driver or front passenger seat is required to wear a seat belt.
Back seat
- Anyone between 8 and 15 years old must wear a seatbelt when sitting in the backseat of a motor vehicle.
- Children under 8 should be in a car seat or a booster.
- Anyone in the backseat who is over the age of 16 is not required to wear a seat belt. This changes if the driver only has a learner’s permit or a probationary license. In those cases, everyone in the car must wear a seat belt.
Distracted drivers can create a number of safety issues on the roadway. This is why Ohio lawmakers have passed specific laws to encourage people to stay focused.
Maintaining Focus While Driving in Ohio
Ohio drivers can be distracted by:
- Other drivers
- Children
- Unrestrained pets
- Reading
- Eating
- Adjusting the seats, music, temperature, etc.
One of the biggest distractions to drivers are cell phones. Answering a call, checking a message, sending a text, and playing a game can all be dangerous actions for the driver, their passengers, and others on the road. Ohio traffic laws make it illegal for drivers to use or even hold a phone while driving.
Drivers can be immediately pulled over for violating this law. Penalties could include:
- $150 fine and 2 points to your license for the first offense
- $250 fine and 3 points to your license for the second offense
- $500 fine, 4 points, and a license suspension for the third offense
If you are cited for distracted driving in Ohio, you may want to contact an accident attorney with experience in Ohio traffic stop laws. They can help you understand your options and decide how to respond to the ticket.
Speed Limits in Ohio
The speed limits in Ohio depend on when and where you are driving. It is important for all Ohio drivers to know what the limits are as they must be followed even if there are no immediately visible signs.
| Area | Speed Limit |
| Residential streets | 25 mph |
| State routes | 35 mph |
| Alleyways | 15 mph |
| Rural Highways (4 lanes or more) | 70 mph |
| Urban Highways (4 lanes or more) | 65 mph |
Under special circumstances these limits can be adjusted. When this happens, signs will be posted indicating when the new speed limit starts and when it ends. For example, speed limits are generally different when work is being done on a roadway or in school zones.
Penalties for Speeding
If you are stopped and given a speeding ticket, you should contact an accident attorney in Ohio. They will be able to look at your situation and help you determine what your next steps should be. That’s because Ohio traffic laws have very specific points and fines for anyone who exceeds the speed limit. Penalties are determined by:
- How fast you were going
- The area you were speeding (If you are speeding in a work or school zone, fines are often doubled)
- How many previous speeding violations you had and how close together those occurred
Right-of-Way Rules in Ohio
Every Ohio driver should remember that they are not the only person on the road. They need to be aware of, and know how to interact with, other cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, scooters, and even farm equipment.
The Ohio legislature has passed a series of Ohio traffic laws that provide guidance about who has the right-of-way on the roads. Some of the most common things Ohio drivers should remember about this are:
- Always yield to pedestrians
- Treat an intersection with a traffic light that is dark or broken like a four-way stop
- When two cars reach a four way stop at the same time, the driver on the right has the right-of-way
- In Ohio, unless it’s posted, you can turn right on red. But you should always yield to oncoming traffic
- Emergency vehicles with sirens and lights ALWAYS have the right of way. Drivers should yield to those vehicles by moving over, stopping (when safe), or slowing down.
If you are involved in an accident that was the result of a right-of-way incident you’ll want to talk to an accident attorney who specializes in Ohio traffic stop laws. They will work with you to discover everything that happened and help you understand your options for moving forward.
Ohio Traffic Stop Laws: Signs and Signals
Whether it’s a trip to the store or drive across the state, every Ohio driver will encounter the same types of traffic signals and signs. These not only provide you direction, they offer safety to everyone on the road. If you disobey these signals and signs you could find yourself facing fines, fees, points on your license, or even an accident.
Traffic Lights
One of the first Ohio traffic stop laws every driver learns is what a stoplight is and what it does. Traffic lights help to control the flow of traffic in a number of different ways.
| Red, Yellow, Green light | A red light means that traffic should not proceed forward. A green light indicates that traffic can continue moving. When there is a yellow light traffic should slow down and prepare to come to a stop. |
| Red, Yellow, Green arrow | On busier roadways a red, yellow, or green arrow will be in place to help drivers making turns. You should treat these just like you would treat a standard traffic light. |
| Flashing red light | Flashing red lights should be treated as a stop sign. |
| Flashing yellow light | Flashing yellow lights let a driver know that they should slow down and continue moving forward with caution. |
| Flashing traffic light | There may be times when there is no power or a traffic light fails and the lights go dark. When that happens, drivers should treat the blacked out light as a four-way stop. |
Traffic Signs
Traffic signs can provide drivers with a lot of information if they know how to read the signs.
Kentucky Traffic Stop Laws in Special Situations
| Coloring | Purpose | Examples |
| Orange/Neon Signs | Construction | Many construction sites in Ohio use bright color signs to grab a driver’s attention. Signs are used to indicate: |
| Yellow Signs | Caution/Warning | Yellow signs provide a driver a warning about the road ahead. These can be used for: |
| Brown Signs | Destination | Brown signs provide information about state sponsored destination points. These include things like: |
| Red Signs | Restrictions | Signs that utilize red let drivers know that the road has certain restrictions. Those could include: |
| White and Black Signs | Directions | These may be the most common types of signs. You see them to indicate: |
Ohio DUI Laws
Ohio traffic laws make it illegal to operate any motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. This means you can not have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater. You also can not have any traces of cocaine, heroin, LSD, or other similar substances in your system.
The penalties for an Ohio DUI vary based on the levels of the substance in your system, the number of offenses, and other factors. For a first time offense with a low BAC, a driver could face:
- 3 days in jail (minimum)
- Fines up to $1,075
- License suspension
If you are ticketed for a DUI in Ohio you will want to contact an accident attorney with experience in Ohio traffic stop laws. They will be able to work with you to navigate the legal complexities of a DUI. Their help is especially important for drivers who have been cited more than once for a DUI.
Do You Need an Accident Attorney in Ohio?
If you receive a traffic ticket for breaking Ohio traffic laws you could find yourself facing serious hardships. That’s because you could be required to:
- Pay fines (Fines are doubled when an incident happens in a school or construction zone)
- Pay court fees
- See your insurance rates rise
- Have your license suspended
- Have points added to your license. When you have 12 points in a given time period, the courts will automatically suspend your license.
- Attend rehabilitation and/or retake driver’s ed classes
- Spend time in jail
This is why it is so important that you work with a legal team with a background in Ohio traffic stop laws. Your accident attorney will be able to help you decide whether to:
- Plead guilty
- Plead “No Contest” and pay the fine
- Plead “Not Guilty” and fight the charges in court
Learn More About Ohio Traffic Laws
In this article we’ve looked at some of the “common” Ohio traffic laws. Ohio drivers face these, and many other laws, every time they get behind the wheel. These resources provide additional information that will keep Ohio drivers safe as they travel the Buckeye State.
Ultimate Ohio Pedestrian Safety Guide
Uninsured Drivers in Ohio: Laws, Accidents, and Claims
Ohio DOT: Phones Down. It’s the Law
Following Ohio Traffic Laws
Road safety starts with an understanding of Ohio traffic laws. If you are accused of not following any of those laws you may want to have the help of an experienced accident attorney in Ohio. The legal professionals at GSAS have years of experience helping Ohio drivers who have been involved in a traffic law violation of some sort. If you received a ticket related to one of Ohio’s traffic laws and need a legal team on your side, contact an accident attorney at GSAS today.
