America’s Rural Roads: Beautiful and Deadly
Rural roads are beautiful, but they’re hiding a deadly secret – nearly half of all fatal crashes occur on them, even though only 19% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas.
This chart outlines state distracted driving laws. Some localities have additional regulations. Enforcement type is also noted.
Crash Data Collection: All states except two (Connecticut and New Hampshire) include at least one category for distraction on police crash report forms, although the specific data collected varies.
Preemption Laws: Some states have preemption laws that prohibit local jurisdictions from enacting their own distracted driving bans. States with such laws include — but may not be limited to — Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Carolina.
A PDF chart of state distracted driving laws is available for download here.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on distracted driving laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Last updated in July 2023. Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2023.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No, except in work zones.
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18 with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes, in school crossing zones and on public school property only. Primary law.
Yes, with minor passengers. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers, while vehicle is in motion. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Secondary law.
All drivers. Secondary law.
No
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
No
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
All drivers. Secondary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers with learner or provisional license. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with permit or provisional license. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Secondary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18 with learner or intermediate license. Secondary law.
No
No
No
No
Yes. Secondary Law. (Effective 8/29/2023)
Yes. Secondary Law. (Effective 8/29/2023)
No
For drivers 21 and under. Primary law.
All drivers. Secondary Law. (Effective 8/29/2023)
No
Yes. Primary law.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner under 18 or provisional licenses. Primary law.
Yes (effective June 30, 2023)
Yes, handheld ban. Primary law.
Yes, handheld ban. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes, handheld ban. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate license, regardless of age. Drivers in school zones. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers with restricted or intermediate license. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 21. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 19. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary Law.
Yes. Primary Law.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
School and work zones only. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner's permit. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate licence. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Secondary law.
School and work zones only. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Secondary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes, for instruction and intermediate permit holders under 18. Secondary Law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Secondary Law.
Yes
16, or 17 with Intermediate License for less than 6 months. Primary law.
Rural roads are beautiful, but they’re hiding a deadly secret – nearly half of all fatal crashes occur on them, even though only 19% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), funded by State Farm®, explores the extent of the rural road safety problem and dives into the data to determine who dies in these crashes and what risky driving behaviors are key contributors.
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), funded by State Farm®, explores the extent of the rural road safety problem, dives into the data to determine who dies in these crashes and what risky driving behaviors are key contributors.
As distracted driving continues to plague our roads and kill people every day, state laws that are broadly worded to prohibit drivers from holding a cell phone under any circumstance appear to be effective in reducing rear-end crashes, according to a new research paper published today by IIHS.
As distracted driving continues to plague our roads and kill people every day, state laws that are broadly worded to prohibit drivers from holding a cell phone under any circumstance appear to be effective in reducing rear-end crashes, according to a new research paper published today by IIHS.
New research suggests state laws that prohibit drivers from holding a cell phone under any circumstance appear to be effective in reducing rear-end crashes.
Among all the issues motorists might encounter, one of the most troubling falls under the category of distracted driving. Which means it’s important we are looking for ways to reduce — or eliminate — a “… pervasive, yet preventable, traffic safety problem.”
With traffic fatalities on U.S. streets currently at their highest point in over a decade, a new report has found that enhanced efforts from law enforcement officials could help buck the trend.
Driving while distracted is something that all drivers do at some time, and it’s not just about cellphone use. Eating, drinking, talking with passengers, daydreaming, and staring at crash scenes or roadside signs all take the driver’s attention from operating the vehicle.
A new research study released yesterday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms that high visibility enforcement (HVE) of traffic safety laws has a positive and measurable impact on roadway safety by reducing dangerous driving behaviors that put road users at risk.