Despite new law, distracted driving remains a danger
By Jenna Wilson
It only takes a few seconds of checking a text of turning to speak with a backseat passenger while behind the wheel for a tragedy to occur.
Distracted driving is something Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper John Harrison has seen the dangerous results of firsthand.
“Unfortunately, I’ve seen several fatalities over the years and numerous serious injury crashes as a result of distracted driving,” he said.
About 3,300 people nationwide died in 2022 from distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. From 2019 to 2023 in Missouri, 412 fatalities were attributed to distracted driving, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Since 2014, cell-phone related accidents across the state increased 31%.
Missouri lawmakers took notice and recently implemented the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, which went into effect on Aug. 28, 2023, and prohibits handheld cell phone use while driving.
It’s been almost a year since the law took effect, but officers remain concerned about the number of drivers they’re still seeing on cell phones or doing other things while behind the wheel.
“It’s still something that’s very common and we’re seeing it on a daily basis,” Harrison said. “Obviously the one everybody thinks of is cell phone usage, but we see people putting on makeup, reading books, watching movies, passing things back to children and being distracted in so many other ways that’s putting lives at risk.”
On a morning ride-along with trooper Harrison, we spotted dozens of distracted drivers just within an hour. One driver he stopped because he noticed she was on her cell phone and swerving in and out of a lane. Once he pulled the driver over, he noticed she was distracted in other ways; she was also trying to eat.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the operation of stopping distracted drivers is more than just ticketing them; it’s about education.
“There’s a lot of determining factors used before instantly handing a person a ticket,” Harrison said. “I usually look at the seriousness of the violation as well as whether they have a history of repeating the violations I’m stopping them for. It will always be shown in their attitude whether I believe a warning will fix their driving behavior or whether a citation is needed.”
Harrison let the driver off with a warning this one time, but he made sure she didn’t leave without distributing learning materials and alarming statistics on the impact of distracted driving.
“People that are distracted driving don’t realize what the biggest risks involved is,” Harrison said. “Someone losing a life and that’s the one thing we want to prevent the most. Don’t become complacent behind the wheel. All those distractions can wait. Be vigilant, keep your phones down and keep your eyes on the road.”
The hands-free rule is a secondary enforcement law, so if officers see a driver swerving with a phone in their hand, they can cite the motorist. A first-time violation can bring a fine of up to $150 and increases to up to $500 for repeat convictions within a two-year period. Additional penalties may be added depending on the severity of the incident.
“Drivers should be aware that we’re going to continue to enforce distracted driving penalties, especially with the hands-free law now being in effect,” Harrison said. “The safety of our citizens is the top priority.”
