Not Even at a Red Light! New U.S. State Prohibits Drivers from Even Touching Their Phones — and That Includes Stops in Traffic or at Red Lights

Written by Felipe Alves da Silva

Published on 07/07/2025 at 17:18

Updated on 07/07/2025 at 17:32

Nova lei na Pensilvânia proíbe uso do celular até com o carro parado no sinal vermelho

Be the first to react!

As of June 6, 2026, Pennsylvania drivers will be prohibited from touching their cell phones while driving, even if the vehicle is stopped at a red light, according to the new Paul Miller Law.

The approved legislation makes Pennsylvania the 31st state in the United States to adopt a “no touch” policy while driving. The rule considers any touch on a cell phone during vehicle operation an infraction, even during temporary stops in traffic.

The rule will take effect with a one-year warning period, allowing drivers to adapt to the new requirement before fines begin to be imposed. Starting in June 2026, those caught holding a cell phone will be fined US$ 50, with exceptions only for emergency calls.

The aim of the law is to combat the increase in accidents caused by distractions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2023, more than 3,000 people died in accidents related to cell phone use.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

No Exceptions for Red Lights or Stopped Traffic

The use of cell phones as GPS remains allowed, as long as the device is fixed in a mount on the dashboard or connected to the vehicle’s system, without the need for manual handling. The law emphasizes that the risk does not disappear even when the car is stopped in traffic jams or at stoplights.

Studies indicate that looking at a cell phone for five seconds while driving at 55 mph is equivalent to crossing a football field with your eyes closed. Therefore, the new measure also prohibits temporary handling during brief stops.

For many drivers accustomed to checking messages at stoplights, the new rule will require behavioral changes. The legislation aims to create a new culture of traffic safety, prioritizing full attention to the road.

Legislation Integrates National Trend in Traffic Safety

With this decision, Pennsylvania aligns itself with other American states that have already implemented similar policies, such as California, New York, and Illinois. In some of these places, fines exceed US$ 2,000 and may even include jail time.

Authorities recommend the use of voice commands or assistance from passengers to ensure navigation during trips. Intelligent vehicle systems are also allies in transitioning to compliance with the new rule.

According to a report from Newsweek, the approval of the Paul Miller Law was motivated by the increasing number of accidents involving distracted drivers. The legislation was named in honor of a fatal accident victim caused by cell phone use while driving.

Prevention and Habit Change as Focus of New Policy

The awareness campaign starts immediately, with educational actions and distribution of informational material. During the adaptation period, police may stop drivers, but only to issue warnings.

The state government’s expectation is that, with reduced reliance on cell phones while driving, accident rates will drop considerably, making roads safer for all users.

What do you think, would such a law work in Brazil? Or would Brazilians find a way to circumvent it, even at red lights?

0 Comments

most recent

older Most voted

Not Even at a Red Light! New U.S. State Prohibits Drivers from Even Touching Their Phones — and That Includes Stops in Traffic or at Red Lights

As of June 6, 2026, Pennsylvania drivers will be prohibited from touching their cell phones while driving, even if the vehicle is stopped at a red light, according to the new Paul Miller Law.

No Exceptions for Red Lights or Stopped Traffic

Legislation Integrates National Trend in Traffic Safety

Prevention and Habit Change as Focus of New Policy

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Greek island offers free housing for volunteers, but there’s a condition: you need to take care of rescued cats.

China has deployed snake-shaped robots to slide along power lines, where they have already inspected over 130 kilometers of cables using cameras and sensors to detect damaged wires, worn-out parts, and overheating.

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

Everyone complains, but everyone stops: Rede Graal charges R$ 20 for a coxinha, earns R$ 2 billion a year, and turned clean bathrooms, bus drivers, and hot bread into a billion-dollar machine on Brazil’s highways.

An entire city in Alaska needs to be moved stone by stone due to ice sinking in a mega relocation project that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Elderly individuals may obtain essential documents without paying fees: a project that includes CIN, CNH, CPF, and work card advances in the Chamber, eliminates issuance and renewal charges, and leaves Brazilians waiting for decisive steps to see if the benefit will actually be implemented.

Cutting-edge engineering transforms an abandoned 88-meter-deep quarry into a luxury ‘earthscraper’ in China with submerged floors and geothermal energy.

Every 30 minutes, a flying car departs: a giant 120,000 m² factory in China has already started producing a six-wheeled vehicle with an electric aircraft at the rear.

Not Even at a Red Light! New U.S. State Prohibits Drivers from Even Touching Their Phones — and That Includes Stops in Traffic or at Red Lights

As of June 6, 2026, Pennsylvania drivers will be prohibited from touching their cell phones while driving, even if the vehicle is stopped at a red light, according to the new Paul Miller Law.

No Exceptions for Red Lights or Stopped Traffic

Legislation Integrates National Trend in Traffic Safety

Prevention and Habit Change as Focus of New Policy

Mother and daughter build a 70 m² house with more than 8,000 discarded glass bottles and impress with their creativity; known as the Casa de Sal, the property is located on Itamaracá Island, in Pernambuco.

Workers were opening a new road connection near the Marginal Tietê when they found, in the underground of the construction site, remnants of locomotives, wagons, and boilers from the 19th century linked to the forgotten history of Lapa.

Instead of burning or burying old tires, an American city is transforming about 2,000 of them into the street itself, paving its first sections with a quieter and more durable rubber asphalt.

China transforms desert-devastated area into the world’s largest artificial forest, planting trees for 60 years, blocking sand that reached Beijing, and creating a “green lung” of 92,000 hectares in a region once considered lost.

Greek island offers free housing for volunteers, but there’s a condition: you need to take care of rescued cats.

China has deployed snake-shaped robots to slide along power lines, where they have already inspected over 130 kilometers of cables using cameras and sensors to detect damaged wires, worn-out parts, and overheating.

Engineers want to carve through Africa with a giant canal to bring water from the world’s second-largest river to a dying lake on the edge of the Sahara Desert that has already lost 90% of its water.

Everyone complains, but everyone stops: Rede Graal charges R$ 20 for a coxinha, earns R$ 2 billion a year, and turned clean bathrooms, bus drivers, and hot bread into a billion-dollar machine on Brazil’s highways.

An entire city in Alaska needs to be moved stone by stone due to ice sinking in a mega relocation project that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Chile transforms giant mining tires into a new industry in the heart of the Atacama: new plant recycles colossal rubbers discarded by off-road trucks and promises to process 30,000 tons per year in the driest desert on the planet.

Mother of 7 children leaves night job in São Paulo, invests only R$ 86 in artisanal ice creams and sees income become household support: business created at the gate reaches R$ 6,000 per month and aims for a physical store.

An empty spacesuit was launched from the ISS and became a “ghost astronaut” in orbit: the SuitSat floated alone around the Earth transmitting radio signals before burning up in the atmosphere.

Everyone complains, but everyone stops: Rede Graal charges R$ 20 for a coxinha, earns R$ 2 billion a year, and turned clean bathrooms, bus drivers, and hot bread into a billion-dollar machine on Brazil’s highways.

An entire city in Alaska needs to be moved stone by stone due to ice sinking in a mega relocation project that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Elderly individuals may obtain essential documents without paying fees: a project that includes CIN, CNH, CPF, and work card advances in the Chamber, eliminates issuance and renewal charges, and leaves Brazilians waiting for decisive steps to see if the benefit will actually be implemented.

Cutting-edge engineering transforms an abandoned 88-meter-deep quarry into a luxury ‘earthscraper’ in China with submerged floors and geothermal energy.

Every 30 minutes, a flying car departs: a giant 120,000 m² factory in China has already started producing a six-wheeled vehicle with an electric aircraft at the rear.