Missouri's year-old hands-free driving law has prevented over 1,000 crashes, according to new analysis. 

The Missouri Department of Transportation, Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) and AAA Missouri collaborated over the impact of the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law.

What You Need To Know

  • Drivers cannot: hold, communicate via typing, or record  video with a cellphone or other wireless device while driving

  • Police and highway patrol may site drivers for beginning Jan. 1, 2025

  • Distracted driving has reduced by 5.1%, avoiding 660 injuries, five fatalities, and $22 million in economic damages says AAA

  • AAA and partners report the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law law already has prevented over 1,000 crashes

Distracted driving has reduced by 5.1 %, avoiding 660 injuries, five fatalities, and $22 million in economic damages says AAA. 

“We’re excited about the progress we’ve seen from the Siddens Bening law so far — saving five lives and preventing hundreds of injuries is just the beginning,” said Jon Nelson, State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer for MoDOT. “CMT’s analysis shows that this law is making Missouri’s roads safer every day. It’s had a lasting impact on reducing distractions and protecting drivers.”

“We are encouraged to see the potential this law has to save lives on Missouri roadways,” said Angela Nelson, AAA Missouri Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations ina press release. “It will take a commitment from all of us to put our phones down while behind the wheel to continue to reduce crashes and drive down fatalities.”

In July 2023, Missouri drivers spent an average of 2 minutes and 7 seconds per hour on their phones while driving. A year later, the average distraction time decreased by 5.1 %.

“CMT’s analysis of Missouri’s hands-free law clearly shows that these laws consistently reduce smartphone based distracted driving," said Ryan McMahon, Senior Vice President of Strategy at CMT. "CMT’s research has uncovered that for every 10% reduction in smartphone distracted driving, the crash rate falls 1.9%, fewer crashes means fewer injuries as well."

Missouri passed the hands-free legislation joining 27 other states to do so at the time. Police and highway patrol may site drivers for beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Siddens Bening Hands Free Law, Missouri’s Hands-Free Law

Drivers cannot:

  • Hold or support a cell phone or other wireless device while driving

  • Manually type, write, send, or read any text-based messages on an electronic communication device

  • Watch, record, post, send or broadcast a video or movie, including video calls and social media posts

Drivers can:

  • Place or receive voice calls utilizing voice-operated or hands-free functions that can be engaged/disengaged with a single touch or swipe

  • Talk on the phone, hands-free, utilizing features like built-in phone speaker, in-car Bluetooth, or ear bud/headset

  • Send or receive text-based communication through voice-to-text features

  • Utilize cell phone GPS navigation and music or podcast functions

  • Utilize cell phone car mounts to assist with hands-free use

First-time offenders face a fine up to $150. Then the fine amounts increase, up to $500, for repeat convictions during a two-year period. Distracted drivers who cause a crash resulting in significant property damage, serious injury or death face misdemeanors or felony charges.

 The statistics in their report are “Estimates based on the change in crash rate from distracted driving and data from NHTSA’s report The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019: $340 billion in crash damages from 14.2 million crashes in 2019, averaging $23,954 per crash.”