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Suggested Citation:"Summary." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Using Electronic Devices While Driving: Legislation and Enforcement Implications. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26082.
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1 Driver distraction is a subset of inattention, characterized by activity that actively diverts the driver’s attention from the driving task. Research has shown that driver distraction, in particular visual and manual activities such as interaction with an electronic device, is related to higher crash risk. BTSCRP Project BTS-03, “Examining the Implications of Legis- lation and Enforcement on Electronic Device Use While Driving,” was conducted to review actions taken by jurisdictions to restrict the use of electronic devices by drivers. The objec- tives of the study included examining existing state and provincial legislation; evaluating the benefits and impediments associated with enacting, enforcing, and adjudicating electronic device legislation; and developing model legislation and educational materials that can be used by relevant stakeholders to enact laws and educate key individuals on the importance of the laws. The first phase of the study included a review of existing legislation for the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 10 Canadian provinces, with a focus on the language, penal- ties, and sanctions used to address electronic device use while driving. Based on the results of the review, the existing laws were ranked according to their strength, and cluster analysis was used to group similar jurisdictions together. A sample of 20 jurisdictions was drawn for a further in-depth review of legislation, enforcement practices, and public awareness strategies, conducted via an Internet scan and telephone discussions with key stakeholders. Based on the findings of the review, the second phase of the study focused on developing a series of deliverables to share information on best practices related to enacting an electronic device use law, as well as education and enforcement. The materials developed include model legislation, a customizable presentation for stakeholders regarding the development of legislation, a presentation for law enforcement on outreach and enforcement strategies, a highlight document for legislators on the importance of electronic device use legislation, a model press release, a research webinar, and a discussion of future research needs. The in-depth review revealed that the jurisdictions used different strategies to enact or revise distracted driving laws, including building a coalition or team of stakeholders, starting with a basic texting law and adding more rigorous clauses, and adopting local ordinances. The content and wording of electronic device use legislation affect both acceptability and enforcement capabilities. Law enforcement agencies have a central role in developing the language and content of the law, enforcing the law, and in public outreach and education efforts. Most jurisdictions attempt to collect and disseminate data on distracted driving crashes, and several jurisdictions indicated that enforcement programs are data driven. Further evaluation is necessary to determine the effectiveness of electronic device use laws, fines, penalty structures, and public awareness campaigns. S U M M A R Y Using Electronic Devices While Driving: Legislation and Enforcement Implications

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Distracted driving is a complex and ever-increasing risk to public safety on roadways. Drivers’ use of electronic devices significantly diverts human attention resources away from the driving task. The enforcement community faces significant challenges as electronic device use has expanded beyond simply texting or talking. Legislation regulating electronic device use while driving is inconsistent in content and implementation.

The TRB Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program's BTSCRP Research Report 1: Using Electronic Devices While Driving: Legislation and Enforcement Implications presents the results of an examination of the current state and provincial legislation on electronic device use while driving; evaluates the benefits and impediments associated with enacting, enforcing, and adjudicating electronic device use; and proposes model legislation and educational materials that can be used by relevant stakeholders to enact a law and educate key individuals on the importance of the law.

Supplemental the report is a presentation for law enforcement.

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