Wisconsin should join Minnesota and ban talking on the phone while driving

The dangers of distracted driving don’t end at the border. Minnesota adopted a law banning drivers in that state from talking on their phones while driving, unless they are using hands-free technology. But holding your cell phone while driving remains perfectly legal in Wisconsin. Wisconsin should follow Minnesota’s lead, and strengthen laws against distracted driving. According to the Department of Transportation, one in every five crashes involve distracted driving. It is happening more and more. More than 24,000 crashes a year in Wisconsin involve distracted driving. That works out to one crash every 22 minutes. A growing number of Wisconsin lawmakers seem ready to at least take a better look at distracted driving laws. Currently in Wisconsin, it is illegal to text while driving. But it remains perfectly legal to talk on your phone behind the wheel without any Bluetooth device. In fact, it remains legal in Wisconsin to use Google maps on your phone while driving 65 mph. And it remains perfectly legal to even surf the internet while barreling down the road. Despite the fact that when traveling on the highway if a driver gets distracted for just five seconds, they have already traveled the length of a football field without paying attention. Our laws need to keep up with technology, and Wisconsin lawmakers should follow Minnesota’s lead in making sure that is the case.