Drivers getting the message: Phone down; it’s the law

COLUMBIA, Mo. — AAA Missouri, in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Transportation and Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), announced that Missouri’s Siddens Bening Hands Free Law has prevented over 1,000 crashes since it began on Aug. 28, 2023.

In the year since the law took effect, Missouri has reduced distracted driving by 5.1%, helping avoid 660 injuries, 5 fatalities, and $22 million in economic damages. The new findings were revealed, Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Missouri 2024 Highway Safety and Traffic Conference in Columbia.

“We’re excited about the progress we’ve seen from the Siddens Bening law so far — saving five lives and preventing hundreds of injuries is just the beginning,” said Jon Nelson, State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer for MoDOT. “CMT’s analysis shows that this law is making Missouri’s roads safer every day. It’s had a lasting impact on reducing distractions and protecting drivers.”

“We are encouraged to see the potential this law has to save lives on Missouri roadways,” said Angela Nelson, AAA Missouri Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations. “It will take a commitment from all of us to put our phones down while behind the wheel to continue to reduce crashes and drive down fatalities.”

“CMT’s analysis of Missouri’s hands-free law clearly shows that these laws consistently reduce smartphone based distracted driving,” said Ryan McMahon, Senior Vice President of Strategy at CMT. “CMT’s research has uncovered that for every 10% reduction in smartphone distracted driving, the crash rate falls 1.9%, fewer crashes means fewer injuries as well. In every state where hands-free legislation has been introduced in the past year — from Missouri to Ohio, Alabama, and Michigan — distracted driving has fallen, saving lives.”

In the month prior to the law, drivers in Missouri spent an average of 2 minutes and 7 seconds per hour on their phones while driving. After the law took effect, distracted driving dropped significantly, with the average phone usage per hour reaching a low of 1 minute and 57 seconds. After one year, average distraction time had decreased by 5.1% compared to the period immediately before the law went into effect. 

Missouri was the 28th state to introduce hands-free legislation. Drivers can begin receiving citations under the law beginning January 1, 2025.

Missouri’s Hands-Free Law

Under the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, drivers shall not:

• Hold or support a cell phone or other wireless device while driving

• Manually type, write, send, or read any text-based messages on an electronic communication device

• Watch, record, post, send or broadcast a video or movie, including video calls and social media posts

The law does allow drivers to

• Place or receive voice calls utilizing voice-operated or hands-free functions that can be engaged/disengaged with a single touch or swipe

• Talk on the phone, hands-free, utilizing features like built-in phone speaker, in-car Bluetooth, or ear bud/headset

• Send or receive text-based communication through voice-to-text features

• Utilize cell phone GPS navigation and music or podcast functions

• Utilize cell phone car mounts to assist with hands-free use 

Penalty provisions state a first-time violation will result in a fine up to $150. Fine amounts increase, up to $500, for repeat convictions within a two-year period. Additional penalties can occur, misdemeanor or felony charges, if the distracted driver causes a crash that results in significant property damage, serious injury or death.

The leading contributing factors of roadway deaths in Missouri include, distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and not wearing a seatbelt.

*Estimates based on the change in crash rate from distracted driving and data from NHTSA’s report The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019: $340 billion in crash damages from 14.2 million crashes in 2019, averaging $23,954 per crash