Latest Distracted Driving Headlines
All the headlines from our Distracted Driving Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Tennessee House Panel OKs Ban on Texting-while-Driving
Apr 9 2009 // A proposal to prohibit texting while driving has advanced out of the House Transportation Committee despite the vocal objections of some members of the panel. Pegram Republican Rep. Phillip Johnson noted that drivers can...
Philly Committee: Ban Handheld Cell Phone Use for Drivers
Apr 6 2009 // A City Council committee has approved a proposal that would ban the use of cell phones while driving in Philadelphia. If the ban is passed by the full council – possibly as early as next week – dialing, texting...
West Virginia House Targets Drivers’ Cell Phone Use
Mar 31 2009 // If you’re on the phone while driving and have your hands on your cell instead of the wheel, that could mean a misdemeanor charge in West Virginia. Legislation passed 80-18 by the House to the Senate aims to limit...
New Kansas Law Bans Cell Phone Use by Young Drivers
Mar 30 2009 // Many young drivers in Kansas won’t be allowed to use their cell phones while behind the wheel starting next year. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has signed legislation that restricts cell phone use for some teenage drivers...
Texting While Driving Already Illegal in Tennessee, Says AG
Mar 26 2009 // A Tennessee attorney general opinion says sending or reading texts while driving falls under a law prohibiting the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle. Rep. Vince Dean, an East Ridge Republican and chairman of the House...
Philly Committee: Ban Handheld Cell Phone Use for Drivers
Mar 26 2009 // A City Council committee has approved a proposal that would ban the use of cell phones while driving in Philadelphia. If the ban is passed by the full council _ possibly as early as next week _ dialing, texting or...
Younger Drivers Distracted by Music Says Australian Insurer NRMA
Mar 23 2009 // According to a study from Australian insurer NRMA, part of the Insurance Australia Group (IAG), younger drivers, who listen to music while at the wheel, are acting dangerously. NRMA said its research “revealed almost...
Mississippi House Passes Ban on Teens Texting While Driving
Mar 12 2009 // A bill that has passed the Mississippi House would ban newly licensed teenage drivers from sending text messages from behind the wheel. House members pushing for the texting-while-driving prohibition said inexperienced...
New Jersey Says Ban on Cell Phones while Driving Works
Mar 3 2009 // New Jersey transportation officials say a year-old state law banning cell phone use while driving has resulted in nearly 109,000 summonses issued in the past 11 months. That’s almost double the amount of tickets...
Texting While Driving Ban Passes Virginia Senate
Feb 26 2009 // OMG! Texting your BFF while driving could soon cost you. The Senate voted 33-6 Tuesday to pass Del. John Cosgrove’s bill to ban sending or reading text messages or e-mail while driving. The House passed the...
Alabama House Votes to Ban Texting While Driving
Feb 24 2009 // The Alabama House has passed a bill that would prohibit motorists from sending or reading text messages on a cell phone while driving. The bill by Rep. Jim McClendon of Springville passed the House 92-4. It now goes to the...
Utah Considers Cell Phone Ban on Texting, E-Mail While Driving
Feb 22 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,...
Iowa Could Fine Drivers Caught Using Cell Phones
Feb 16 2009 // Some Iowa legislators have a message for cell phone users: stop talking or texting while driving. A measure being considered in the Legislature would fine drivers $30 if they used their phones while behind the...
Texas Bill Would Double Fines for Driving With Handheld Devices
Feb 12 2009 // Texas State Rep. Vicki Truitt of Keller has filed HB 1158 which would double fines for drivers guilty of traffic violations while using handheld wireless devices, the Texas House of Representatives...
North Carolina House Weighs Ban on Text Messaging by Drivers
Feb 11 2009 // The North Carolina General Assembly already has passed a law barring teenagers from talking on a cell phone while driving. Now some legislators want to stop all drivers from text messaging. Some House members scheduled a...
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...
