Distracted Driving
This chart outlines state distracted driving laws. Some localities have additional regulations. Enforcement type is also noted.
- Handheld Cellphone Use: 34 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cellphones while driving. All but Alabama and Missouri are primary enforcement laws — an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cellphone without any other traffic offense taking place.
- All Cellphone Use: No state bans all cellphone use for all drivers, but 36 states and D.C. ban all cellphone use by novice drivers, and 25 states and D.C. prohibit it for school bus drivers.
- Text Messaging: Washington was the first state to pass a texting ban in 2007. Currently, 49 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers. All but six have primary enforcement.
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.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
No
No, except in work zones.
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers. 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
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.
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.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers, while vehicle is in motion. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Secondary law.
All drivers. Secondary law.
No
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Secondary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
No
No
Drivers with learner or provisional license. Primary law.
All drivers. 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
No
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18 with learner or intermediate license. Secondary law.
All drivers. 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)
All drivers. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner under 18 or provisional licenses. Primary law.
All drivers. 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes, handheld ban. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers. 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers with restricted or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers. 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
Yes. Primary law.
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
No
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary Law.
Yes. Primary Law.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
School and work zones only. Primary law.
No
No
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers with learner's permit. Primary law.
All drivers. 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Drivers under 18. Secondary law.
All drivers. Primary 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.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
No
Yes. Secondary Law.
Yes
16, or 17 with Intermediate License for less than 6 months. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Rising Death Toll From Distracted Driving Prompts Action
When a person reads a text while driving, his or her eyes are off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s like driving the length of a football field while blindfolded.
As Distracted Driving Deaths Increase, New Research Highlights Resources to Strengthen Laws and Enforcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2021
CONTACT: Adam Snider, 202-580-7930
202-365-8971 (after hours)
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