The Surprising State Without a Texting and Driving Ban

Missouri has become the 49th state in the U.S. to implement a statewide ban on texting and driving, leaving Montana as the only state without such a ban. The new law in Missouri prohibits hand-held phone use while driving, including texting, making calls, and reading messages. However, hands-free phone use, navigation, emergency calls, and listening to podcasts or music are still allowed. In Montana, previous attempts to ban texting and driving have failed, with Republicans arguing against their effectiveness and infringement on rights. The Montana Department of Transportation emphasizes the dangers of texting while driving, and recent data shows a 12% increase in fatal crashes involving distracted drivers.