South Dakota took a big step this week towards stopping texting while driving. The Senate Transportation Committee said yes to a new bill that aims to ban it. Next up, this bill heads to the South Dakota Senate. And guess what? There’s a good shot it’ll pass! Why? Because folks in South Dakota are rooting for their leaders to tackle this common safety concern. Polls hint that people are ready for a change, and the state’s politicians seem to agree. Keep reading to find out how this decision could shake things up.

So far 39 states around the country have similar laws which prohibit drivers from engaging in activities such as texting and driving, or using a handheld device to do anything (including making calls) while driving. These new laws were meant to address the rising number of distracted driving crashes being reported each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a report last December that showed the number of vehicle collisions caused by distracted driving had eclipsed the number of vehicle collisions caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also spoken out against the dangers of distracted especially among young drivers for whom vehicle collisions remain the leading cause of death.

Currently state law allows each municipality to set their own and four South Dakota cities have passed such laws in the absence of a statewide ban. If the new statewide distracted driving law goes into effect, anyone caught violating the law will face the possibility of a $500 fine, 30 days in jail and points added to their license.

Improv Traffic School will be following this proposed legislation and will report back to you if it does become law..