Montana is another state that doesn`t have text messages while driving or distracted driving rights. But while it`s technically legal to use your phone while driving, if you cause an accident, you can still be charged with negligent driving in Montana. • If you need to send or receive an SMS, stop in a safe place and park your car first. • If you have passengers, appoint a „designated writer“ to handle all your text messages. • If you can`t resist the temptation to look at your phone, keep it in the trunk. Missouri and Montana are the only U.S. states where the text and reader are currently legal. But just to mention, Arizona and Texas would also be lenient on drivers who text and drive, at least under certain circumstances. When we are behind the wheel, we must focus on one task: driving safely. Every time you divert your attention from driving, you are distracted. This includes texting, messaging, taking selfies, setting the radio, adjusting your browsing, makeup, eating or drinking. The table below outlines statewide laws regarding distracted driving across the country. Use the arrows below the chart to scroll through the states in alphabetical order.
To continue slowly, click the right arrow (>). To go to the end, click the double arrows (>>). Or use the Filter by Status feature to switch to a specific state. Download a PDF table of distracted driving laws for all states here. Scroll down to see a summary of the totals of the number of states with specific provisions. Distracted driving is a major public health and safety issue, especially since the proliferation of new communication technologies increases the risk of distracted driving. However, if you are driving in Montana, there are areas where text and driving are prohibited. Therefore, it is recommended to have a road map of places where distracted driving laws apply, such as Baker, Billings, Bozeman, Columbia Falls, Great Falls, Hamilton, Helena, Missoula and Whitefish. States primarily use hand and text bans to combat distracted driving. Handheld bans are laws that allow mobile devices to be used while driving only in hands-free mode – usually by voice communication or by activating a simple touch or swipe. A growing number of states also include a ban on accessing, viewing, or reading non-navigational content.
SMS bans prohibit drivers from typing or texting while driving, but allow them to speak on a portable mobile device. Many of these prohibitions provide for various exceptions, including for emergencies, law enforcement and first responders. To combat the dangers of defensive driving, most states have banned text and driving, including 48 of the 50 U.S. states where text messaging is prohibited to all drivers. It turns out that Missouri and Montana are the only two U.S. states that don`t have a complete ban on text and the reader. And while you absolutely want to avoid distracted driving, if you get a ticket, you can rehabilitate your record with an I Drive Safe defensive driving course. Our course may be able to keep points out of your records – and educate you even more about the dangers of texting and driving. Click on the graphic below to view interactive graphs of mobile phone and SMS usage during driving laws.
You can search by lock status and lock type (main categories and subcategories). Insurance rates are risk-based, and insurance companies assess the amount of risk required to insure a driver in part due to traffic violations. These offences, including speeding tickets, text messages while driving or motor vehicle accidents, can lead to higher insurance rates. SMS is so common – it`s the most used app on smartphones today – that you might not even notice it. Just because it`s become an automatic activity doesn`t mean texting doesn`t require attention and concentration. So how much will it cost you if you get stopped for a text while driving? Text and driving penalties vary from state to state, but let`s take a look at some of the heaviest fines below: Pledge to saving lives by never texting or using your phone while driving, and speak up when you see other distracted people. #justdrive Young drivers, in particular, are considered higher risk and are generally more expensive to insure, even if no tickets or accidents are recorded. It`s important to discuss text messages with teen drivers behind the wheel. Many insurance companies offer a written „contract“ online to open the discussion with your teen and agree on the consequences if the contract is broken. Current Missouri law only prohibits drivers 21 and under from texting while driving, resulting in a $200 fine and two points against the driver`s license.
Therefore, data from the Missouri Department of Transportation shows that 70% of drivers who use cell phones in Missouri traffic crashes are 22 years of age or older. Since 2007, drivers aged 16 to 24 have been more likely to be distracted by equipment than other drivers, but we are all at risk of distracted driving accidents. Keep these tips in mind for safe driving: We`re all tempted to look at our phones while driving, but it`s important to consider the potential cost of distraction. These include the possibility of an accident, the likelihood of death, the financial impact of a ticket, the disadvantages of a suspended licence, and the possible increase in insurance premiums. The key to avoiding an accident or penalties for getting a ticket for texting while driving is prevention. Send texts before a trip starts, stop when you need to make a call or send a text message, or wait until you reach your destination to look at your phone. Currently, Missouri is one of only two states that does not have a law prohibiting all drivers from using their cell phones while driving. According to NHTSA, texting and driving is the most dangerous distraction on the roads today.
Sending or reading a text can take your eyes off the road for five seconds, which is equivalent to driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed. The NHTSA U-drive. U-text. U pay. The campaign reminds drivers of the deadly dangers and legal consequences – including fines – of texting while driving. Forty-eight states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands have passed laws that make texting while driving illegal. From April 7 to 11, you can see an increase in the number of police officers enforcing SMS laws and reminding drivers of the dangers. Legislation requiring the use of a hands-free kit while driving is rapidly evolving, and more and more states are adding this requirement every year. Over the past decade, distracted driving has taken American roads by storm, endangering not only distracted drivers, but also their passengers, pedestrians, and others who use the road. That`s why most states have now passed laws banning texting and driving.
Many have made it illegal to use cell phones while driving, and in many states it is a felony. If you get caught, you could face one of the possible consequences: texting while driving is illegal everywhere in Texas and some cities prohibit cell phone use while driving. But using your cell phone while driving is always dangerous because it is a distracted driver`s time. SMS, which includes messaging, is considered the most dangerous type of distracted driving because it combines visual, manual and cognitive distractions. Missouri and Montana are the only states that currently allow texting and driving. In addition, it is a felony in 47 of the 48 states that have prohibited this risk of conduct. In the state of Nebraska, this is a secondary offense, meaning you can only be named in addition to another moving offense. As NHTSA has stated, texting while driving is the most dangerous distraction on the roads, killing about nine people every day in the United States. In fact, 14% of fatal car crashes involve inappropriate cell phone use while driving. A PDF table of the state`s distracted driving laws is available for download here. Oregon has the highest penalty for texting and driving, with a maximum fine of $1,000 for a single offense. That`s about ten times the average fine for that offense.
However, the fine is only monetary – you don`t get any points for your licence. This table shows government laws on distracted driving. Some places have additional regulations. The application type is also specified. You can`t help but see how dangerous texting and driving are. Even if the split second you look away from the road doesn`t cause the accident, other distractions — like a fight, excitement about a news or other emotions — can easily get in your way. Penalties for contraventions vary from state to state, ranging from $25 to thousands of dollars for the first violation, and fines increase for subsequent violations.