Watro Weekly: April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Distracted Driving Awareness Month is recognized each April to remind drivers of the dangers of distracted driving and to decrease the traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries.

Distracted driving includes anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel and your mind off the task of driving. Examples include eating, drinking, smoking, adjusting the radio, texting, talking with passengers and talking on a cell phone.

To help combat distracted driving, Pennsylvania will soon implement “Paul Miller’s Law,” which prohibits a driver from using a hand-held device while driving. The law is named after Paul Miller, who was tragically killed in a crash with a tractor trailer in 2010 in Monroe County as a result of a distracted driver who reached for their phone.

Enforcement of the law begins on June 5, and violations during the first 12 months will result in a written warning. Effective June 5, 2026, the penalty for violations will be elevated to a summary offense with a $50 fine, plus court costs and other fees.

To learn more about distracted driving, please visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.

About Author

State Rep. Dane Watro

State representative for Pennsylvania’s 116th Legislative District, covering parts of Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.

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