Distracted Driving Grant Results: Montana
Through a grant from GHSA and General Motors, MT HSO partnered with local FCCLA chapters to encourage their members to develop and implement distracted driving campaigns in their communities.
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
All drivers. Primary law.
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.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
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.
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.
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.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes. 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.
No
All drivers. Secondary law.
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
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.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
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.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
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)
No
All drivers. Primary law.
No
Yes. Primary law.
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.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
Yes, handheld ban. 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.
Drivers with learner or intermediate license. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
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.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
Yes. Primary law.
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.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
School and work zones only. Primary law.
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.
Drivers under 18. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
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.
No
All drivers. Primary law.
No
No
Yes. Secondary Law.
Yes
16, or 17 with Intermediate License for less than 6 months. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
Through a grant from GHSA and General Motors, MT HSO partnered with local FCCLA chapters to encourage their members to develop and implement distracted driving campaigns in their communities.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) used grant funding from GHSA and General Motors to expand outreach of the BUPD program to three groups: elementary school students, high school students and employers.
Through a grant from GHSA and General Motors, the Massachusetts Highway Safety Division (Division) worked with Safe Roads Alliance (SRA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives by providing educational services to all drivers, to expand their “Kids Speaking Up for Road Safety” program.
To combat distracted driving, through a grant from GHSA and General Motors, the Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO) identified data collection, enforcement, infrastructure, legislation, outreach, and vehicle engineering and technologies as reduction target strategies.
Then, through a grant from GHSA and General Motors, KOHS conducted research on the target age group’s awareness of the BUPD campaign.
Through a grant from GHSA and General Motors, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) expanded its anti-distracted driving effort by sponsoring a video contest in partnership with high schools across the state.
GHSA's Annual Report highlights the Association's accomplishments for the 2023 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023).
The goal is to urge “drivers to take a break from their phone every time they drive during the month,” Jonathan Adkins, the Governors Highway Safety Association’s chief executive, said in a statement, “so they form a lifelong safety habit that can protect not only themselves and their loved ones, but everyone who shares the road with them.”
“We’re able to do a lot more things with our phones now than 10 or 20 years ago,” said Russ Martin, senior director of policy and government relations at GHSA. “There are fewer people holding the phone to their ear to talk on the phone, and more people physically manipulating the phone.”
Distracted driving is rampant on U.S. roads, but it’s also preventable. A new study released today by IIHS indicates that a comprehensive approach that includes strong state laws, equitable enforcement and public awareness can help tackle this persistent and deadly traffic safety problem.