Why the Phone Ban Law Should Change

Why the Phone Ban Law Should Change By Anjel Dominguez Hi everyone, my name is Anjel Dominguez, and today I want to talk about why the phone ban law needs to change. I know this law was made to keep us safe, but it’s starting to fall behind the times. Phones aren’t just for calling or texting anymore—they’re also how we use GPS, play music, or call hands-free. The current law doesn’t really match how people use phones today, and that’s why it’s not working as well as it should. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,000 people died in 2023 because of distracted driving (NHTSA). That’s a shocking number, and it shows that something clearly isn’t working. Even with phone laws in place, people still use their phones while driving because the rules aren’t always clear or the same everywhere. Some states only ban texting, others ban calling, and some don’t enforce the laws strictly at all. When the rules change from state to state, it’s hard for drivers to know what’s right. I believe the phone ban law should change to make it simple and fair. It should clearly ban holding or using your phone with your hands while driving, but still allow hands-free use like voice commands or Bluetooth. This makes sense for both safety and practicality. It keeps our roads safer, but also recognizes how people actually use technology today. The law should also be the same everywhere, and drivers should get more education about the dangers of distracted driving. Dr. Motao Zhu from Nationwide Children’s Hospital said, “Hands-free laws save lives and reduce the costs of distracted driving.” His research proves that stronger, updated laws really do make a difference. If we update the phone ban law, we could save thousands of lives every year and make our roads much safer for everyone. Now, some people disagree. They say we shouldn’t change the law because people should just use common sense or that new rules won’t stop careless drivers. I understand that point, but even responsible people can make mistakes. Studies show that looking down at your phone for just five seconds while driving 55 miles per hour is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded (NHTSA). Even a short glance can cause a crash or cost someone their life. That’s why we can’t just rely on “common sense.” We need clear rules that everyone understands and follows. Changing the phone ban law won’t fix every problem on the road, but it will make a big difference. It will make the law fairer, clearer, and more up to date. It will help prevent accidents, save money from crash costs, and most importantly—save lives. No text, no call, and no notification is ever worth losing a life for. Let’s update the phone ban law so everyone can get home safely. Thank you. Works Cited National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distracted Driving 2023. U.S. Department of Transportation, 2024. www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving Zhu, Motao, et al. “Bans on Cellphone Use While Driving and Traffic Fatalities.” Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 2021. www.nationwidechildrens.org/newsroom/news-releases/2021/07/zhu-distracted-driving Nationwide Insurance. “Survey: 86% of Drivers Support Hands-Free Legislation.” Nationwide Newsroom, 2022. news.nationwide.com/survey-86-percent-of-drivers-support-hands-free-legislation