Cell/Mobile Phone Laws Worldwide

This chart outlines all state cell phone and text messaging laws. Some local jurisdictions may have additional regulations. Enforcement type is shown in parenthesis.

• Handheld Cell Phones: 10 states, D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Except for Maryland and West Virginia (until July 2013), all laws are primary enforcement—an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.

• All Cell Phone Use: No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers, but many prohibit use by certain subsets:

  • 32 states and D.C. ban all cell phone use by novice drivers.

  • School bus drivers in 19 states and D.C. may not use a cell phone when passengers are present.

• Text Messaging: 39 states, D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers. All but 4 have primary enforcement.

  • An additional 5 states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers.

  • 3 states restrict school bus drivers from texting.

• Some states such as Maine, N.H. and Utah treat cell phone use as part of a broader distracted driving issue. In Utah, cellphone use is an offense only if a driver also commits another moving violation (other than speeding).

Crash Data Collection: Many states include a category for cell phone/electronic equipment distraction on police accident report forms. Proposed federal legislation would require states to collect this data in accordance with Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria guidelines to qualify for certain federal funding.

Preemption Laws: Many localities have passed their own distracted driving bans. However, some states – such as Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma – prohibit localities from enacting such laws.

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.

¹ Arkansas also bans the use of handheld cell phones while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone. This law is secondarily enforced.
² Hawaii does not have a state law banning the use of handheld cell phones. However, all of the state's counties have enacted distracted driving ordinances.
³ Idaho has a "Distraction in/on Vehicle (List)" attribute as part of its Contributing Circumstances element, and officers are supposed to list the distractions in the narrative.
⁴ Illinois bans the use of handheld cell phones while driving in a school zone or in a highway construction zone.
⁵ In Michigan, teens with probationary licenses whose cell phone usage contributes to a traffic crash or ticket may not use a cell phone while driving.
⁶ Dealt with as a distracted driving issue; New Hampshire enacted a comprehensive distracted driving law.
⁷ South Carolina has a Distracted/inattention attribute under Contributing Factors.
⁸ Texas has banned the use of hand-held phones and texting in school zones.
⁹ Utah's law defines careless driving as committing a moving violation (other than speeding) while distracted by use of a handheld cellphone or other activities not related to driving.

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.

Europe - Countries that ban cell/mobile phone use while driving

Other Countries that ban cell/mobile phone use while driving