The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), and Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) are sharing resources and encouraging safe driving as part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, April. Motorists are urged to avoid all distractions and put down their phone while driving. They are also reminded of Senate Bill 37 - known as Paul Miller's Law - which Gov. Josh Shapiro signed on June 5, 2024. Effective June 5, 2025, the law prohibits the use of hand-held devices while driving, even while stopped temporarily due to traffic, a red light, or another momentary delay.

Paul Miller's Law prohibits any driver from using a handheld cell phone while driving a motor vehicle. Drivers can still use their phones to alert emergency responders and, if they are using hands-free technology, to make phone calls, use a GPS, and listen to music. Pennsylvania already prohibits drivers from using mobile devices to send, read, or write text-based communications while their vehicle is in motion.

The law is named for Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in a crash with a tractor trailer in 2010 in Monroe County as the result of a distracted driver who reached for a phone while driving. Since Paul's death, his mother, Eileen Miller, has become a national advocate for stronger laws to curb distracted driving.

Drivers are encouraged to follow several safety tips. If they are expecting a text message or need to send one that cannot wait, they should pull over and park the car in a safe location before using a cell phone. Drivers may also consider allowing a passenger access to the phone to respond to calls or messages.

People should not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.

Cell phone use is habit-forming. Anyone who is struggling to not text and drive may activate his or her phone's Do Not Disturb feature, silence notifications, or put the phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until arriving at the destination.

Cell phone use is not the only distraction while driving. Anything that takes people's attention away from driving, their eyes off the road, or their hands off the wheel is a distraction.

For more information on distracted driving, visit http://www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.

PennDOT offers social media-sized graphics for numerous transportation-related campaigns, including safety topics such as aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belts for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders. To access these graphics, visit https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/news-and-media/media-resources.html.

For more news from PennDOT, search for @PennDOTNews on X, "Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)" on Facebook, or @pennsylvaniadot on Instagram.