Buckeye State residents have been given plenty of time to get used to the change in distracted driving law that took effect April 4. The six-month grace period ended Thursday, and law enforcement officers are now set to issue citations for those who are using electronic communications devices while driving.

“The use of cell phones and other electronic communications devices while driving (is) a primary traffic offense for all drivers and allows law enforcement to immediately pull over a distracted driver upon witnessing a violation,” Gov. Mike DeWine’s office said.

Drivers using, holding or “supporting” a device will be cited. That includes: Dialing a phone number, sending a text message (voice to text is legal using a hands-free method), updating or browsing social media, video calls or FaceTime, browsing the internet, watching videos, playing games and recording or streaming video, according to a list compiled by WKYC-TV in Cleveland.

If you’re under 18, the restrictions are even tighter. Use of any device, in any way — even hands-free — is prohibited.

There are financial penalties and hits to insurance rates to worry about, but the bottom line is this law will save lives.

“Right now, too many people are willing to risk their lives while behind the wheel to get a look at their phones,” DeWine said earlier this year. “My hope is that this legislation will prompt a cultural shift around distracted driving that normalizes the fact that distracted driving is dangerous, irresponsible, and just as deadly as driving drunk.”

It should. Many vehicles make hands-free communication easier these days, but even if yours does not, there is no text more important than your own life and the lives of others on the road. It really can wait.