Laws to Change for 9 Million Drivers this Week

Newsweek

3 days ago

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A new law goes into effect this week in Pennsylvania that will make it illegal for drivers to hold a phone or other device while operating a vehicle.
Why It Matters
The new law addresses a safety concern that contributed to more than 11,000 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2023, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. That same year, there were 3,275 deaths tied to distracted driving across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Pennsylvania's new hands-free driving law—officially known as Paul Miller's Law—will go into effect on Thursday, making it illegal for drivers to hold any electronic device while behind the wheel. The law, which Governor Josh Shapiro signed last year, aims to reduce distracted driving incidents throughout the state.
There are 31 states across the country that have already implemented hands-free driving bans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
What To Know
Under the new Pennsylvania law, drivers are prohibited from holding any electronic device for calls, texting, emailing, or using the internet while driving. The new law states that even "supporting" a phone "with another part of the body" or "reaching" for a phone "in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver so that the driver is no longer in a seated driving position" will now be illegal in the Keystone State.
A driver uses a cellphone while behind the wheel in New York City on April 30, 2016.
A driver uses a cellphone while behind the wheel in New York City on April 30, 2016.There are exceptions for emergency situations where contacting first responders is necessary but in other cases drivers must operate devices vocally via Bluetooth connections.
State Senator Rosemary Brown, a Republican who sponsored the bill, told Newsweek in a statement on Monday that the law—named in memory of Paul Miller Jr, a Pennsylvanian who was killed in a crash involving a distracted driver in 2010—is a "major step forward in improving safety on Pennsylvania's roads."
"This law is not about punishing drivers," Brown said. "It's about protecting every Pennsylvanian who gets behind the wheel or crosses the street. I'm grateful to PennDOT and all the dedicated partners who helped bring this legislation to the finish line."
She said the law taking effect is "deeply meaningful and long overdue" after more than a decade of advocacy.
A Pennsylvania state police spokesperson told Newsweek that Pennsylvanians are encouraged to use hands-free systems or voice-assist features while driving and explain to young drivers the risks and legal consequences of distracted driving.
Joel Feldman, an advocate for ending distracted driving who founded the organization EndDD after his daughter Casey Feldman died in a crash involving a distracted driver, told Newsweek the law is a "start," but that there will continue to be "preventable" crashes involving distracted drivers.
"Laws help, but will not effect the societal change necessary to make distracted driving socially unacceptable. We hate it when we see others driving distracted, yet we drive distracted," he said. "If we treated others the way we wanted to be treated we would not drive distracted."
In total, 31 states fully ban holding phones while driving, while others may ban the use of phones while driving in certain situations, such as when driving through a school zone or for teenage drivers. All of Pennsylvania's neighbors also have handheld bans.
Only one state—Montana—does not prohibit texting and driving.
What People Are Saying
Governor Shapiro wrote in a statement last year: "This commonsense, bipartisan legislation—passed and signed into law in honor of Paul Miller's legacy—empowers our state and local police to stop distracted driving and make our roads and communities safer. This law also increases transparency and ensures accountability at traffic stops while providing crucial public safety data to keep our roads safe. This is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together—senators and representatives from both parties came together to pass commonsense legislation that will save lives across Pennsylvania."
Eileen Miller, mother of Paul Miller Jr, wrote in a statement: "My son did everything right—he was killed by someone else's unsafe choices behind the wheel. This law is for every family in Pennsylvania that doesn't have to experience two state troopers knocking on their door to tell them that their loved one was killed by distracted driving. Paul Miller's Law will be a beacon of protection for every driver and passenger in Pennsylvania."
Feldman said: "Distracted driving is selfish and disrespectful and inconsistent with everyone's values. If we think about who we are, our values and the example we want to be for others, particularly our children, we would give up our driving distractions."
What Happens Next
Failure to comply with the law could result in a $50 fine. There will also be a one-year "warning period" as public officials and officers continue to educate the public and enforce the new hands-free law statewide.