Although there is no federal (nationwide) law that prohibits texting or using a wireless phone while driving, many states have passed laws that prohibit such activities—and some municipalities (cities, towns) have also passed ordinances that restrict texting, talking, or emailing while driving. For example:

• 25 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam have banned drivers from hand-held phone use while driving.

• 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam have banned texting while driving for all drivers.

• 37 states and the District of Columbia prohibit all cell phone use by novice drivers.

• 23 states and the District of Columbia prohibit school bus drivers from cell phone use while driving.

For more information on state laws, visit the Governor Highway Safety Association page by copying this link and pasting it into your internet browser: https://www.ghsa.org/state-laws/issues/distracted%20driving

In Nebraska, texting while driving is prohibited for all drivers. This ban is considered a secondary enforcement law, which means that a driver can only be cited for texting if they have been pulled over for another violation first. Additionally, Nebraska prohibits all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for novice drivers, which includes any driver under the age of 18 who holds a learner's permit or an intermediate license. However, Nebraska has not enacted a statewide ban on handheld phone use for all drivers. It's important to note that local ordinances within Nebraska may have stricter regulations on distracted driving, so drivers should be aware of the laws specific to the municipalities they are in.