U.S. States Advance Hands-Free Driving Laws

Recent legislative actions across the United States are focusing on combating distracted driving by implementing hands-free laws. Michigan's hands-free driving law, passed in 2023, has resulted in a significant decrease in distracted-driving incidents, preventing numerous crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Similarly, Iowa lawmakers have successfully passed legislation to ban handheld cellphone use, set to take effect in 2025, after years of advocacy. Florida is also advancing a bill to prohibit handheld mobile device use while driving, which would expand the existing texting ban to include all forms of handheld device usage, with significant penalties for violations. These efforts reflect a growing trend among states to adopt stricter laws to reduce distracted driving incidents and improve road safety.