• The US Atlas Of Texting-While-Driving Laws

    Driving requires constant attention -- yet people are seemingly spending more time staring at iPhones to text friends. It's dangerous and that's why it's becoming illegal in more states. A guide to where and how the laws work below.

    When the first set of cell phone driving laws were passed, many of them did not include text messaging provisions. While the concept of texting-while-driving falls under most driver distraction laws, those are often not enforced until after an accident or incident occurs. Click on the maps below to discover whether your state has a full statewide ban, has pending legislation, teen-driving laws or nothing at all.

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    Send an email to Matt Hardigree, the author of this post, at matt@jalopnik.com.

    By Matt Hardigree
    Jul 13, 2009 1:30 PM 24,194
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    The US Atlas Of Texting-While-Driving Laws

    Primary v. Secondary
    As with many laws, including seat belt laws and open container laws, enforcement is either primary or secondary. If it is a primary enforcement law, that means you can get pulled over just for violating it. If it's a secondary law you have to also break an additional law before you can get cited. In nearly every state with a full or novice ban this is a primary, and not a secondary, offense. Washington is the only state with a full, comprehensive "secondary" ban.

    Photo Credit: TimCaynes

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