Earlier this month Pennsylvania became the 29th state to ban distracted driving.

What took so long?

Drivers can still use their phones to alert emergency responders and to make phone calls, use a GPS, and listen to music, if they are using hands-free technology. The legislation approved by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro makes driving a vehicle while holding or supporting any electronic wireless device a primary offense, meaning motorists can be pulled over if the action is observed. Drivers can use their phone when the vehicle is parked. GPS use is permitted but the device must not be held or supported with the body. Enhanced criminal penalties as well as education efforts are also included.

It is simply common sense in this day and age that cell phones in cars should be hands-free. Most vehicles made within the past decade support hands-free cell phone operation that works the same way as turning on a car radio or turning up the heat.

Much like the passage of seat belt use and drunk driving laws, there will be some who bellyache about loss of freedom and state overreach.

Some will surely say the distracted driving ban is a money grab aimed at boosting state and local revenue collection. And we might agree if PennDOT data didn’t show that distracted driving was the leading cause of crashes in Pennsylvania in 2023. Not all distracted driving is caused by a cell phone, but cell phones do account for a majority of those instances.

Using a cell phone while driving is a bad idea. We all know it. Yet too many continue to put other drivers or pedestrians at risk by using cell phones while driving.

Obviously, enforcement of what most drivers should know as simple common sense is needed.

The only real question remains – what took so long?