State Traffic Safety Laws
March 2015
AAA KEY
RECOMMENDATIONS
TRAFFIC SAFETY LAWS
Teen Driver Safety Recommendations
Passenger
Restrictions
Teen Wireless
Bans
Text Messaging
Bans
AAA recommends no more than 1 non-family
passenger under age 20 for at least first 6
months of licensure
State
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
TOTAL (incl. D.C.)
AAA recommends complete wireless device
bans for all drivers under age 18
AAA recommends texting while driving bans
for all drivers
LAWS MUST BE STANDARD ENFORCEMENT TO MEET
RECOMMENDATIONS
Legend
Meets AAA recommendation
Has law but does not meet AAA recommendation
No law
(states w/laws / states
meeting recommendations)
1
2
3
4
Passenger
Restrictions
1
Teen
Wireless
Bans
Text
Messaging
Bans
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
4
24
2
2
2
3
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
47 / 18
41 / 30
46 / 41
Secondary enforcement.
State also has handheld cell phone ban for all drivers.
Teen wireless ban permit hand-free use.
Mississippi’s texting ban takes effect July 1, 2015. New Hampshire’s
handheld and teen wireless bans take effect July 1, 2015.