Sponsors (17)
The resolution encourages measures that can reduce distracted-driving injuries and give governments stronger grounds to enforce hands-free rules, but it risks more traffic stops (with equity concerns) and requires ongoing public-education and enforcement spending.
Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users could experience fewer crashes and fatalities because the resolution supports continued education and enforcement focused on distracted driving.
State and local governments and law enforcement gain continued justification to adopt and enforce hands-free/anti-texting laws, strengthening legal tools to reduce distracted driving.
Taxpayers and families may face lower injury-related medical and associated costs over time because public awareness campaigns encourage behavior changes (e.g., 'Put the Phone Away or Pay').
People in urban communities and racial/ethnic minority groups could experience more traffic stops and higher risk of unequal or excessive enforcement as emphasis on enforcement increases.
State and local governments and taxpayers may face increased costs to fund expanded enforcement and ongoing public-awareness programs.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
States findings about distracted driving risks, cites evidence on texting and hands-free limits, and highlights DOT/NHTSA April education and enforcement campaigns.
Introduced April 20, 2026 by Tracey Mann · Last progress April 20, 2026
States findings that distracted driving is a major, preventable cause of crashes, causing over 3,000 deaths and 300,000+ injuries each year, and that mobile device use and in-vehicle technology raise crash risk. Notes that reading a text takes about 5 seconds away from the road, texting can increase crash risk up to 23 times, and hands-free systems do not remove cognitive distraction. Highlights that many States have hands-free and anti-texting laws, and that the Department of Transportation and NHTSA run national April education campaigns and partner with state and local law enforcement for high-visibility enforcement and outreach to reduce distracted driving.