As NHTSA has stated, texting while driving is the most dangerous distraction on the roads, killing about nine people every day in the United States. In fact, 14% of fatal car crashes involve inappropriate cell phone use while driving. That`s why many states have passed laws banning texting while driving, and in most states it`s a major offense. In 37 states, the law is restricted to novice drivers, and 23 states, including the District of Columbia, have banned the handling of cell phones by bus drivers. These distractions can be visual (taking your eyes off the road), manual (taking your hands off the wheel), or cognitive (distracting the mind from driving). Some distractions, like texting while driving, can be a combination of all three types, making them even more dangerous. Texting while driving is illegal in 48 states and DCs, but specific regulations and penalties vary from state to state. Montana and Missouri are the only two states that don`t have a statewide ban on texting while driving. However, Missouri prohibits drivers under the age of 21 from texting while driving. Some states allow cell phone calls and others only require the use of hands-free phones.

Government regulations vary when it comes to mobile phone use by young drivers. For example, some states strictly prohibit the use of cell phones for young drivers. Penalties can range from fees and fines to licence suspension, and tickets can result in increased insurance rates. The law also prohibits commercial drivers from using portable communication devices, including sending, reading or writing text while driving. We all face the temptation to look at our phones while driving, but it`s important to consider the potential cost of distraction. These include the possibility of an accident, the likelihood of death, the financial impact of a ticket, the disadvantages of a suspended licence, and the possible increase in insurance premiums. The key to avoiding an accident or penalties for getting a ticket for texting while driving is prevention. Send texts before a trip starts, stop when you need to make a call or send a text message, or wait until you reach your destination to look at your phone. That`s why most states have now passed laws banning texting and driving. Many have made it illegal to use cell phones while driving, and in many states it is a felony. If you get caught, you could face one of the possible consequences: Various laws in the United States regulate the use of cell phones and other electronic devices by motorists.

Different countries take different approaches. Some laws only affect novice drivers or commercial drivers, while other laws affect all drivers. Some laws only target handheld devices, while other laws affect both wearable and hands-free kits. Some cities in New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Taos, and Espanola) require hands-free calls only when driving within city limits. However, hands-free use is not a requirement for the entire state of New Mexico. In 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the following data – 2,841 deaths due to distracted driving. Among the dead: 1,730 drivers, 605 passengers, 400 pedestrians and 77 cyclists. The report makes it clear that text messages are the “most alarming distraction.” [43] If it is proven that a driver wrote a “text message” during a fatal accident on the roads, this is considered a Class C offence and the driver can be sent to jail for up to 10 years. [17] [16] Texting and driving is a dangerous activity, and the statistics are frightening. A 2014 report from the National Safety Council, which compiles injury and death data from 2013 and earlier, concluded that cell phone use was responsible for 26 percent of car crashes in the United States.

[39] Only 5% of cellphone accidents in the U.S. were text messages:[40] “The majority of crashes involve drivers who are distracted when speaking on hand-held or hands-free cell phones.” [39] In these states, the offence is a main office – that is, you can only be cited for the use of a mobile phone, and not in conjunction with another offence. Distracted driving is a major public health and safety issue, especially since the proliferation of new communication technologies increases the risk of distracted driving. You can`t help but see how dangerous texting and driving are. Even if the split second you look away from the road doesn`t cause the accident, other distractions — like a fight, excitement about a news or other emotions — can easily get in your way. Diverted driving is a major driver of road accidents in this country – up to 80% of all car collisions involve some type of distracted driving. And even though Montana has the fifth-highest crash rate in the U.S., the state was reluctant to implement a distracted driving law. Text messages while driving cause thousands of accidents and fatalities each year in the United States. Texting and driving are illegal in 48 states and DCs, but specific regulations can vary from state to state. A text message and a ride ticket can result in fines, increased insurance rates, license suspension, and even jail time. Preventative measures can be taken to resist the temptation to text while driving. Resisting the urge to text and drive could help you avoid the penalties that come with it and reduce the number of accidents and fatalities in our country.

No state prohibits the use of mobile phones for all drivers. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia[5], Washington, West Virginia (plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) prohibit all drivers from using a cell phone while driving. Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C. have banned the use of cell phones by new drivers, while 19 states and Washington, D.C. prohibited the use of cell phones by school bus drivers in the presence of children. [2] Laws governing driving (or distracted driving) may be applied primarily or secondarily by state, regional or local authorities. [1] All state-level cell phone laws in the United States are of the primary type of law enforcement – meaning an officer can name a driver for using a hand-held cell phone without any other traffic violations being committed – except in some cases involving newer (or “beginner”) drivers.

[2] In the case of the secondary application, a police officer can only stop or report a driver for a mobile phone offence if the driver has simultaneously committed another primary offence (e.g. speeding, failure to stop, etc.). No state completely bans cell phone use, but 37 states restrict cell phone use for novice drivers, and 23 states — including the District of Columbia — have banned the use of cell phones by bus drivers. The table below outlines statewide laws regarding distracted driving across the country. Use the arrows below the chart to scroll through the states in alphabetical order. To continue slowly, click the right arrow (>). To go to the end, click the double arrows (>>). Or use the Filter by Status feature to switch to a specific state.

Download a PDF table of distracted driving laws for all states here. Scroll down to see a summary of the totals of the number of states with specific provisions. Click on the graphic below to view interactive graphs of mobile phone and SMS usage during driving laws. You can search by lock status and lock type (main categories and subcategories). The U.S. Department of Transportation has created an official website to combat distracted driving, Distraction.gov. [41] Accident data collection: All but two states (Connecticut and New Hampshire) include at least one category of distraction on police accident report forms, although the specific data collected varies. The Model of Uniform Minimum Criteria for Collision (MMUCC) policy provides best practices for collecting distraction data. A PDF table of the state`s distracted driving laws is available for download here. Illinois only beats people who text and drive, with an initial fine of $75.