State

Ranking
i

Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers

No. of distracted crash fatalities per 100k drivers weighted by
the number of drivers registered in that state.
i

Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers

No. of distracted crash injuries per 100k drivers weighted by the
number of drivers registered in that state.
i

Hand-held ban

Law prohibiting use of handheld devices while driving.
i

Phone ban – School bus driver

Law prohibiting bus drivers from using a cellphone.
i

Phone ban – Novice drivers

Law prohibiting drivers <18 from using a cellphone while
driving.
i

Overall texting ban

Law prohibiting texting while driving.
i

Texting ban – School bus

Law prohibiting bus drivers from texting while driving.
i

Texting ban – Novices

Law prohibiting drivers <18 from texting while driving.
i

Minimum fine, $

Minimum fines for offenses.
i

Higher fine for repeat offence

Minimum fines for repeated offense.
i

Further penalties

Loss of license, or jail time.
Overall
score
/100

Rhode Island

1
84.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  7.6
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  100 Higher fine for repeat offence:  2.5 Further penalties:  None

Maine

2
82.2
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  118.7
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  150
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2.5
Further penalties:  None

Connecticut

3
80.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.3
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  127.9
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  150 Higher fine for repeat offence:  3.3 Further penalties:  None

Vermont

4
80.1
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  50.2
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  125 Higher fine for repeat offence:  3 Further penalties:  None

Illinois

5
74.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  118.1
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <19 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  75 Higher fine for repeat offence:  1.7 Further penalties:  None

California

6
74.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  153.1
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  162 Higher fine for repeat offence:  0.7 Further penalties:  None

Massachusetts

7
73.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  119
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  100 Higher fine for repeat offence:  5 Further penalties:  None

Nevada

8
73.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.5
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  28.3
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  50
Higher fine for repeat offence:  5
Further penalties:  None

Georgia

9
73.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  51.6
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  50 Higher fine for repeat offence:  3 Further penalties:  None

Minnesota

10
73.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  122.3
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  50
Higher fine for repeat offence:  5.5
Further penalties:  None

West Virginia

11
72.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  18.2
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  100
Higher fine for repeat offence:  3
Further penalties:  None

New Jersey

12
71.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  144.4
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  300
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2.7
Further penalties:  None

Washington D.C.

13
71.1
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  210.3
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  100
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2
Further penalties:  None

Maryland

14
70.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  7.4
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  75 Higher fine for repeat offence:  2.3 Further penalties:  None

Washington

15
68.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  74.2
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  136
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1.7
Further penalties:  None

Tennessee

16
68.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  131.6
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  50
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2
Further penalties:  None

New Hampshire

17
68.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  100.9
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  100 Higher fine for repeat offence:  1 Further penalties:  None

Delaware

18
68.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  154.4
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  100
Higher fine for repeat offence:  3
Further penalties:  None

Arkansas

19
65.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  167
Hand-held ban:  Learner
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  250 Higher fine for repeat offence:  2 Further penalties:  None

Hawaii

20
64.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  2.5
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  64.6
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  250 Higher fine for repeat offence:  1 Further penalties:  None

Oregon

21
62.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  214.2
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  260 Higher fine for repeat offence:  7.7 Further penalties:  None

Ohio

22
60.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  33.3
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  150 Higher fine for repeat offence:  1 Further penalties:  None

New York

23
59.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  207
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  125
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2
Further penalties:  None

Virginia

24
57.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  106.2
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  125 Higher fine for repeat offence:  2 Further penalties:  None

Louisiana

25
57.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  3.1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  190.1
Hand-held ban:  Learner
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  500
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2
Further penalties:  None

Michigan

26
57.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  117
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  100
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2
Further penalties:  None

Utah

27
55.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  180.9
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  750 Higher fine for repeat offence:  1 Further penalties:  Jail time

Nebraska

28
54.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  188
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  200
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2.5
Further penalties:  None

New Mexico

29
53.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  8.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  136.9
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  25
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2
Further penalties:  None

Florida

30
52.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  250.9
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Yes
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  30
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2
Further penalties:  None

Wyoming

31
52.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  85.7
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  75
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  None

South Dakota

32
51.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  122.4
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  100
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  Misdemeanour

Colorado

33
51.5
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  12.4
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  50 Higher fine for repeat offence:  4 Further penalties:  None

Mississippi

34
51.2
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  202.6
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  100
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  None

Iowa

35
50.5
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  99.9
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  30
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  None

North Dakota

36
49.1
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  111.3
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  100 Higher fine for repeat offence:  1 Further penalties:  None

Kentucky

37
46.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  4
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  81
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  25 Higher fine for repeat offence:  2 Further penalties:  None

Alaska

38
46.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  6.8
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  0
Higher fine for repeat offence:  0
Further penalties:  Misdemeanour

Wisconsin

39
45.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  140.4
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  30
Higher fine for repeat offence:  2.5
Further penalties:  None

Kansas

40
45.2
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  4.5
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  91.4
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  Learner
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  60
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  None

Arizona

41
45.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  103.5
Hand-held ban:  Yes
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  No
Texting ban – School bus:  No
Texting ban – Novices:  No
Minimum fine, $:  112
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1.8
Further penalties:  None

Pennsylvania

42
44.0
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  134.2
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  50
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  None

Indiana

43
43.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.6
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  155.1
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <21 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  0 Higher fine for repeat offence:  0 Further penalties:  None

North Carolina

44
42.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  250.9
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  100 Higher fine for repeat offence:  1 Further penalties:  None

Idaho

45
41.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  109.1
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  85
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  None

Oklahoma

46
40.6
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  132.5
Hand-held ban:  Learner
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  no minimum stated
Higher fine for repeat offence:  0
Further penalties:  Loss of license

Alabama

47
38.7
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.2
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  180
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  Yes Texting ban - School bus:  Covered Novices:  Covered Minimum fine, $:  25 Higher fine for repeat offence:  3 Further penalties:  None

South Carolina

48
33.9
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.8
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  152.4
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  Yes
Texting ban – School bus:  Covered
Texting ban – Novices:  Covered
Minimum fine, $:  25
Higher fine for repeat offence:  1
Further penalties:  None

Montana

49
23.4
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  0.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  49.1
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  No
Texting ban – School bus:  No
Texting ban – Novices:  No
Minimum fine, $:  0
Higher fine for repeat offence:  0
Further penalties:  None

Texas

50
18.3
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.9
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  229.6
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  Yes if pass <17 Phone ban - Novice drivers:  <18 Overall texting ban:  No Texting School bus:  Yes if pass <17 Novices:  <18 Minimum fine, $:  62 Higher fine for repeat offence:  2.4 Further penalties:  None

Missouri

51
8.8
Distracted fatalitles rate per 100k drivers:  1.7
Distracted injury rate per 100k drivers:  167.6
Hand-held ban:  No
Phone ban – School bus driver:  No
Phone ban – Novice drivers:  No
Overall texting ban:  No
Texting ban – School bus:  No
Texting ban – Novices:  <21 Minimum fine, $:  0 Higher fine for repeat offence:  0 Further penalties:  None