Latest Distracted Driving Headlines
All the headlines from our Distracted Driving Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Utah Considers Cell Phone Ban on Texting, E-Mail While Driving
Feb 11 2009 // The Utah Legislature is considering a bill that would prohibit a person from using a wireless communication device for texting messages or e-mailing while operating a motor vehicle, among other acts. Additionally, HB 281,...
Indiana House Panel Advances Ban on Drivers’ Cell Phone Use
Feb 5 2009 // Drivers in Indiana could not use handheld cell phones or texting devices under legislation endorsed by a state House committee. The House Public Policy Committee approved the bill by Democratic Rep. Vanessa Summers of...
Arkansas Bills Restricting Drivers’ Cell Phone Use Advance
Jan 28 2009 // An Arkansas House of Representatives committee has advanced a pair of bills restricting cell phone use by drivers. The House Public Transportation Committee endorsed a bill by Rep. Ray Kidd, D-Jonesboro, that would ban...
Teen Cell Phone Use While Driving Targeted by Texas Bill
Jan 27 2009 // Texas State Rep. Solomon Ortiz, Jr. has filed legislation to keep teen drivers safe by limiting their use of cell phones and other portable devices while driving. “This legislation will help limit distractions and...
Maine and Delaware Consider Restricting Drivers’ Cell Phone Use
Jan 16 2009 // The states of Maine and Delaware are considering limits on how drivers use cell phones. A Delaware lawmaker is trying again to pass legislation barring the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Rep. Joe Miro says...
North Dakota Republican Seeks Fines to Curb Driving While Texting
Jan 14 2009 // North Dakota Rep. Lawrence Klemin recalls the driver who pulled alongside him at a stoplight recently, eyes down, thumbs frantically working a tiny keyboard that was propped on the steering wheel. “When the stoplight...
U.S. Safety Group Calls for Cell Phone Driving Ban
Jan 13 2009 // The National Safety Council, which campaigned to get U.S. states to enforce seatbelt laws, is taking on cellphones, saying it is starting a campaign to ban all use of mobile phones while driving. Even so-called hands-free...
Ban on Text Messaging while Driving Proposed in New Hampshire
Dec 30 2008 // A bill to make it illegal for drivers to send text messages on cell phones or type on laptop computers or other electronic devices is coming back before the New Hampshire Legislature. Nashua Democrat David Campbell’s...
Insurers’ Backing Sought for Car Key That Jams Teen Drivers’ Cell Phones
Dec 12 2008 // University of Utah researchers have developed an automobile ignition key that prevents teenagers from talking on cell phones or sending text messages while driving. The inventors are hoping the insurance industry will back...
California Bans Texting While Driving
Oct 20 2008 // California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reinforced his commitment to keeping California’s roads safe by signing legislation that prohibits drivers from using text messaging devices while operating a motor...
California Bans Texting While Driving
Sep 25 2008 // California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reinforced his commitment to keeping California’s roads safe by signing legislation that prohibits drivers from using text messaging devices while operating a motor...
113 Washington Drivers Ticketed for Cell Phone Use
Jul 25 2008 // Washington state troopers say nearly 300 drivers were stopped for investigation of using hand-held cellular telephones in the first half-month that a ban was in effect, and 113 have gotten tickets. Troopers add that an...
Look Ma, No Hands
Jul 7 2008 // Hands-Free Cell Phone Laws Take Effect in California, Washington California and Washington drivers can no longer talk on their cell phones while driving — at least not if they’re holding the phone with their hands,...
Survey: Washington Cell Phone Law Falls Short
Jun 27 2008 // While Washington drivers agree that the steady rise in cell phone usage while behind the wheel calls for changes to state law, most think the impending July 1, 2008, change making it illegal to use a cell phone without a...
Study: Teen Drivers Often Ignore Bans on Using Cellphones and Texting
Jun 9 2008 // Teenage drivers’ cellphone use edged higher in North Carolina after the state enacted a cellphone ban for young drivers, a new Institute study finds. This is the case even though young drivers and their parents said...
Michigan Bills Limit Cell Phone Use, Passengers for Teen Drivers
May 30 2008 // A first-ever analysis from AAA finds that crashes involving teen drivers ages 15 to 17 cost American society more than $34 billion annually in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life loss and other...
Arizona Senate Debates Ban on Texting While Driving
May 29 2008 // Arizona legislators are debating whether to ban texting while driving. Supporters say it would “send a message” about safety while critics call it overkill when other distractions such as eating and changing...
New York Senate Bill Bans Texting While Driving
May 28 2008 // The New York Senate has passed legislation that would prohibit drivers from reading, writing or sending text messages while driving in the Empire State. The law modifies earlier legislation that bans cell phone use while...
Americans Claim to be Safe Drivers, Even While Distracted
May 19 2008 // While 98 percent of Americans claim to be safe drivers, a vast majority also admit to driving while distracted (DWD). That’s according to a survey by Nationwide Insurance which found that more than four out of five...
South Carolina Teens Can Text and Talk while Driving
May 2 2008 // South Carolina lawmakers decided it’s OK for 15- and 16-year-olds to talk and text message on cell phones while driving. The House voted April 30 to send a measure blocking such activities back to a committee, ending...
