Montana is the Only State That Allows THIS On the Highway

Here's a fun fact for you: Montana is the ONLY state in the entire US that doesn't have a law banning texting while driving. "But, but, but," you say, "I thought I could get a ticket in my town if I'm caught on my phone while driving!?"

That is largely correct. Many cities in Montana have ordinances that prohibit using your hands to call or text while driving. This only applies within city limits. Once you hit the highways and byways of Big Sky Country, there is no law saying you can't text to your heart's content behind the wheel of a two-ton vehicle barreling down the interstate at 80 miles per hour.

Not that it's a good idea.

Distracted driving is blamed for 8% of traffic fatalities across the US, accounting for over 3,000 deaths in 2022, according to data shared by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, pronounced "nit-zah") notes that distracted driving can take many forms.

• Talking or texting on your phone.
• Eating or drinking.
• Fiddling with your radio or navigation system.
• Talking with other passengers in the vehicle.

We could add:

• Yelling at kids in the back who won't stop fighting.
• Digging into that narrow gap between the seat and center console to retrieve your Chapstick that fell down the crack.
• Dogs who won't sit still because they're freaking out about getting a pupcup.

You get the idea.

NHTSA divides distractions into three categories: visual distraction, physical distraction, and cognitive distraction. Texting while driving seems to land in all three.

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community on Reddit

What's your take on texting and driving in Montana?

The Reddit thread (above) has some interesting comments about texting and driving in Montana. Some argued that it's not that big of a deal on our wide-open straightaways, where you might not encounter another human for many miles.

Another person said a statewide ban on texting while driving would do nothing to alleviate the danger and simply provide a way for the Montana Highway Patrol to have an additional excuse to pull you over and "fish" for other violations.

Opinion: I'm not sure another law is really necessary. Montanans don't like being told what to do. That said, put down your damn phone when you're behind the wheel; regardless of the legality, it's clearly a distraction and a hazard to others and yourself.