WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 05, 2025— Enforcement of traffic laws plays a critical role in combating dangerous driving behaviors like impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving. A new report from the National Distracted Driving Coalition (NDDC) offers a comprehensive overview of best practices in crafting and enforcing effective distracted driving laws to help change perceptions and behaviors and ultimately save lives. The report can serve as a blueprint for law enforcement and policymakers as they grapple with distracted driving, which is a factor in more than a quarter of U.S. crash deaths according to government studies. Leadership in policing is essential to effect change and prioritize distraction efforts. At the same time, the adoption of technological tools can increase efficiency and reduce the burden on law enforcement as the sole solution.

The new report examines four critical components:

Legislation: The latest research highlights how to craft effective laws , and how laws, especially those with primary enforcement components, alongside robust public awareness efforts can help improve safety.

Enforcement: Officer training programs and emerging technologies can help law enforcement officers counter behaviors that don’t always offer clear evidence following a traffic stop or crash. Lessons learned from specific jurisdictions offer insight for departments.

Public awareness & engagement: Effective laws create a real perception that someone will be caught and held accountable. Public awareness efforts are needed to ensure that motorists understand the law and know that they will be caught when driving distracted. The new report offers examples of unique efforts to raise awareness of current and new laws.

Partnerships and coordination: Combining educational campaigns with high-visibility enforcement can help shift perceptions of what is and isn’t acceptable behind the wheel.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought the role of traffic enforcement into sharp focus, with dangerous driving increasing dramatically in the absence of normal enforcement levels,” said Robyn Robertson, NDDC Chair and Secretary of the Board at TIRF USA. “As law enforcement officers continue to grapple with dangerous driving behaviors, the new report provides helpful insight for policymakers working on the nuts and bolts of legislation. It also offers ideas for DOTs and law enforcement as they work to effectively communicate and enforce these laws.”

To access A Comprehensive Approach to Distracted Driving Enforcement, visit https://bit.ly/NDDC-Enforcement.