In keeping with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s commitment to safety on Pennsylvania roads, the Shapiro administration urged drivers to put down the phone while driving, ahead of the June 5 effective date for Paul Miller’s Law, which makes it illegal to use a handheld cellphone while driving. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and Pennsylvania Insurance Department joined state Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-40th) and national advocate Eileen Miller to urge drivers to make safe choices behind the wheel.

As part of his mission to provide a safe transportation system for all Pennsylvanians, Shapiro signed Senate Bill 37 into law June 5, 2024. Effective June 5, 2025, the law — known as Paul Miller’s Law — prohibits the use of handheld devices while driving, even while stopped temporarily due to traffic, a red light or other momentary delay.

Pennsylvania already enforces a texting-while-driving ban that prohibits drivers from using mobile devices to send, read or write text-based communications while their vehicle is in motion. Beginning June 5, law enforcement will begin issuing written warnings for violations of Senate Bill 37. Law enforcement will have the ability to issue summary citations to violators as of June 6, 2026.

“Paul Miller’s Law is about saving lives,” PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said. “Your choices behind the wheel can change lives forever. Make the safe choice. Put your phone out of reach and don’t text and drive. One text, one glance down — it could kill someone. And it’s not worth it.”

Under Paul Miller’s Law, drivers can still use their phones to alert emergency responders and, if they are using hands-free technology, to make phone calls, use a GPS and listen to music.

“The Pennsylvania State Police will enforce the new law to its full extent,” PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris said. “Distracted driving is not a minor offense. Just one second of inattention can result in irreversible consequences. We urge all drivers to stay focused behind the wheel.”

“Distracted driving is a serious issue that undermines PennDOT and the PA Turnpike’s collective effort to create safe driving experiences for our travelers,” Turnpike Commission CEO Mark Compton said. “Safety is the driving force of what we do at the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the Paul Miller Law is a meaningful step toward safer roads for everyone.”

“Focusing on the road while driving is one of the best ways to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you,” Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys said. “Safe driving can also help reduce the cost of your insurance as insurers factor your accident and driving history into their ratemaking. We encourage consumers to speak with their insurance provider to learn more about the benefits of safe driving, the discounts they could receive and how they can start saving today.”

“As the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 37, now Act 18 of 2024, seeing this law go into effect is incredibly rewarding knowing it will save lives,” Brown said. “Since day one, I have always believed in this commonsense policy. It’s important that drivers remember that the cellphone has become the most consistent, repetitive and lengthy distraction behind the driver’s wheel, causing significant public safety concerns. This law will change behaviors and save lives. The legislature passed Senate Bill 37, now Act 18, with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I am confident that my efforts, along with the efforts of my friend Eileen Miller, have Pennsylvania going in the right direction for public safety.”

The law is named for Paul Miller Jr., who was tragically killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer in 2010 in Monroe County, as the result of a distracted driver who reached for their phone while driving. Since his death, Paul’s mother, Eileen Miller, has become a national advocate for stronger laws to curb distracted driving.

“Nearly 15 years ago, two Dunmore state troopers knocked on my door to tell me that my son was killed,” Eileen Miller said. “My son did everything right. He was killed by someone else’s unsafe choices behind the wheel. This law is for every family in Pennsylvania that doesn’t have to experience two state troopers knocking on their door to tell them that their loved one was killed by distracted driving. Paul Miller’s Law will be a beacon of protection for every driver and passenger in Pennsylvania.”

According to PennDOT data, in 2024 there were 9,950 crashes involving a distracted driver, resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities. Distracted driving crash data is believed to be underreported due to many drivers’ reluctance to admit to being distracted at the time of a crash.