When we hear the phrase “distracted driving,” most of our minds automatically associate this with a cell phone or other types of personal devices. Studies done by the University of Utah showed that driving while using your cell phone can inhibit your attention and reaction times as much as a .08 BAC. Many new technologies and laws are emerging to try to curb distracted driving, with a focus on cell phones and seatbelt usage. There are dozens of other causes for distracted driving — most of which we don’t even realize.
A few of the other major contributing causes of distracted driving are things that we, as drivers, can’t control at times. Having to go to the bathroom, being drowsy, billboards, radio stations and passengers can all be factors distracting a driver and causing unsafe driving conditions or accidents. Rental cars, company vehicles and new car purchases can take time to learn the new controls, and many modern vehicles come standard equipped with screens bigger than our phones — including integration of calling and messaging apps that can take eyes off the roads and what is in front or around us.
The best course of action is all in decision-making while driving. Having a passenger or voice assistance is nice, but not always a feasible option. When necessary, dialing numbers while stopped is the safest option, and making sure to keep calls to necessary, non-emotional discussions is beneficial. Knowing the risks that come with distracted driving helps, because many drivers don’t know that using your phone to text or make calls uses the same part of the brain as driving, and can hinder attention and performance by up to 37%.
The last legal motion regarding distracted driving, and specifically cell phone usage in the state of Kentucky, was signed into law in April 2010. House Bill 415 simply outlined legal grounds for making phone calls or GPS capabilities while driving for people over the age of 18. This bill, however, didn’t take into account new technology that would take over the automotive industry, as well as the massive changes that have happened to the average cell phone since then.
A new bill was introduced and passed in February 2025. Senate Bill 99 amended KRS 189.292, restructuring the definitions of personal communication devices and the actions that constitute using them in an illegal manner and pushes for safer use in the integrated systems in the control center of a vehicle. This bill also establishes a revocation period of a person’s driver’s license if they are found violating the laws regarding texting and driving.
One of the biggest methods of enforcement that is being put into place is camera systems that are placed along busy roads, rest areas and weigh stations. They are gaining popularity and are starting to get installed in Minnesota and a few other states, and are being used to collect data and provide evidence for citations and tickets for distracted driving on the highway. These technologies are afforded through grants from the state transportation cabinets. They cannot give citations on their own, but are proving to be a useful tool for highway patrol and state police forces for trying to reduce accidents and improve driver awareness.
As it pertains to Kentucky though, we are behind the pace of the states around us with the laws and enforcement of distracted driving legislation. Senate Bill 99 is a step in the right direction. The more steps we take to create a safer roadway, the better we are as a state.
