COLUMBUS, OH (WOWO) Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase penalties for drivers who injure pedestrians and strengthen right-of-way laws, according to WCMH. House Bill 714 would create a new misdemeanor offense for drivers who negligently cause serious physical harm. The charge wo uld typically be a second-degree misdemeanor, carrying up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine, but could be elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor with penalties of up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine in certain circumstances. The proposal would also increase penalties for failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, raising the offense from a minor misdemeanor to a fourth-degree misdemeanor, which includes potential jail time. It further clarifies that drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks regardless of traffic signals and must come to a complete stop when yielding. Lawmakers say the bill was inspired in part by a 2023 crash involving a Grove City resident who was struck while using a wheelchair and suffered life-altering injuries. Under current law, the driver in that case faced only a minor misdemeanor penalty. Data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows nearly 400 pedestrian-related crashes so far in 2026, including dozens of fatalities and serious injuries. The bipartisan bill is now under review in the Ohio House Public Safety Committee. The post New Ohio Law Could Increase Penalties for Pedestrian Crashes appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less