Pennsylvania bans the use of handheld devices behind the wheel

(TNS) – Eileen Miller said Wednesday when she was told her son Paul had died, she didn’t know it was due to distracted driving.

“My son did everything right, but someone else caused my son’s death,” Miller said. “I whispered in my son’s ear in the morgue – who I couldn’t even identify, I didn’t even know it was him, he was that bad – but I whispered in his ear that when I found out what happened he caused this accident, I will fight for change.

“We later learned it was caused by distracted driving. I entrusted him with this honor and today Paul Miller Law applies.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 37 – known as the Paul Miller Act – banning the use of handheld devices while driving. This bipartisan legislation makes Pennsylvania the 29th state in the nation to ban distracted driving.

Paul Miller’s Law allows law enforcement to issue a ticket when a driver uses a cell phone while driving. Drivers can still use their phones to notify emergency services, make phone calls, use GPS and listen to music if they use hands-free technology.

“I have met too many people with lifelong injuries because they were hit by a distracted driver, and too many families who had an empty seat at the table because of distracted driving,” the governor said. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation – passed and signed into law in honor of Paul Miller’s legacy – empowers our state and local police to end distracted driving and make our roads and communities safer.”

Shapiro said this law also increases transparency and ensures accountability at traffic stops while providing critical public safety data to keep our roads safe.

“This is an example of what we can accomplish when we work together — senators and representatives from both parties coming together to pass commonsense legislation that will save lives across Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said.

Mrs. Miller said that when her son died, two state troopers from Dunmore knocked on her door to deliver the news.

“I did it, Paul, I did it,” she said. “This is for every family in Pennsylvania where they don’t have to have two state troopers knock on their door to tell them their loved one was killed by something preventable like impaired driving.”

Paul Miller Jr. was tragically killed in a car accident with a tractor-trailer on July 5, 2010, when a distracted driver lost control of the tractor-trailer and struck Paul Jr.’s car head-on, killing him and injuring several other people in another vehicle.

Since Paul’s death, Eileen Miller has become a nationwide advocate for stricter laws to curb distracted driving.

The governor’s office said Paul Miller’s bill would also prevent bias in policing by requiring law enforcement agencies to collect data on drivers stopped during traffic stops, including race, ethnicity and gender. The data will be made publicly available in the annual report.

This amendment – which the Governor advocated for in partnership with the Legislative Black Caucus – builds on the Shapiro Administration’s work to ensure Pennsylvanians have complete confidence in the law enforcement officers who serve and protect them every day.

“Reducing driving distractions makes Pennsylvania roadways safer for everyone,” said Col. Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “Eliminating the need to hold cell phones while driving will certainly reduce accidents and save lives.”

In 2023, distracted driving was the leading cause of car crashes in Pennsylvania, and traffic fatalities increased 2.25% compared to 2022, according to PennDOT’s annual crash information report.

The report showed 1,209 people died in car accidents, up from 1,179 the previous year.

In 2023, there were over 11,262 distraction-related crashes compared to 8,330 alcohol-related crashes.

“In 2023, there were over 11,000 crashes involving a distracted driver in Pennsylvania,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Driving requires 100% of your attention, 100% of the time, and this bill – which I proudly supported as minority chairman of the House Transportation Committee – is an important step forward in discouraging distracted driving and keeping everyone safe on the road. “Congratulations to Senator Rosemary Brown for her tireless efforts to support this bill and thanks to Eileen Miller for her many years of support for this cause.”

Governor Shapiro was also joined by a bipartisan group of legislators, including SB 37’s lead sponsor, Sen. Brown, R-Monroe County.

“After more than a decade of dedicated work to pass this legislation, the passage of Senate Bill 37 represents a monumental victory for Pennsylvania,” said Senator Brown. “After signing this bill, I am full of gratitude to those who helped me in this process, and I know that this solution will protect drivers, prevent accidents and save lives. This bill is more than legislation – it is a reminder of the power of perseverance and the impact we can have when we prioritize public safety.”

So far in 2024, Governor Shapiro has signed 18 bills into law.