Louisiana Senate Expands Hands-Free Driving Bill for Final Approval

Louisiana is on the verge of expanding its distracted driving laws to ban handling cell phones while driving, including posting on social media and creating videos, not just texting. The legislation, championed by Rep. Brian Glorioso and Sen. Pat McMath, aims to make the law more enforceable and reduce car crashes and insurance rates, following examples from over 30 other states with similar laws. The bill passed the Louisiana Senate overwhelmingly and is now returning to the House for final approval before going to Governor Jeff Landry, who is expected to sign it into law. In Pennsylvania, a similar law called Paul Miller’s Law recently took effect, banning the holding or supporting of handheld devices while driving, with enforcement beginning gradually to reduce distracted driving crashes and fatalities. Both states emphasize that distracted driving poses serious risks to drivers and others on the road, with Pennsylvania reporting thousands of crashes and fatalities linked to mobile device use behind the wheel. These legislative efforts reflect a broader national trend toward hands-free driving laws aimed at improving road safety and lowering insurance costs.