On June 5, a new distracted driving law will go into effect in Pennsylvania.

The Paul Miller Jr. Act was signed into law last summer by Governor Josh Shapiro. This summer, law enforcement will start pulling drivers over and giving warnings. Next summer, drivers can get fined if caught using their phone while driving.

Around 15 years ago, Paul Miller Junior was killed in a tractor trailer crash by a distracted driver.

"Nobody should ever have to lose a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a loved one, because of something so preventable,” Eileen Miller said, Paul Miller Jr.’s mother. Eileen spent the past 15 years advocating for stricter distracted driving laws in Pennsylvania. This summer, she will see that effort in effect.

Under the hand held device ban, drivers cannot physically pick up or touch their phone while driving. Blue-tooth or voice command features can be used, or phones can be used in emergency situations. Otherwise, state officials say drivers should pull off and park to send urgent texts.

"Police will be actively looking for this behavior, and can stop a driver solely for this violation alone,” said Major Robert Krol, the director of the bureau of patrol in the Pennsylvania State Police.

Mike Carroll, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary, says to put your phone out of sight while driving— in a glove box or purse. Or, drivers can turn on driving focus features in their phone settings.

“One text, one glance away could result in a fatality,” Carroll said. "It's not worth it."

In 2024, over 9000 vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania were caused by distracted driving. Of those crashes, 119 were fatal.

Pennsylvania joins 30 other states in enforcing a hand held device ban. Research shows that in the 3 months after the law goes in effect, distracted driving decreases by 13%. In states that have enacted hand held device bans, distracted driving rates do still increase over time… matching the broader national trend.

Legal penalty alone is not enough to change social behavior.

"We have young people stand up from this and go, I am never going to drive distracted, because I see now just how quickly things can go wrong.” said a PennDOT safe driving trainer at a press conference this week, motioning to a distracted driving simulator.

PennDOT brings the simulator to schools and community centers, giving students a visual and visceral reality check for texting while driving. The simulator is a large monitor with touch screen ability. A video game drivers wheel sits on a desk with the monitor, and a gas and brake system sits on the floor— for a full driving experience.

The simulator lets you see how far you can drive while texting, before crashing. Once you crash, video of hospital emergency rooms, courtroom scenes and your new insurance premium flash across the screen.

PennDOT spokesmen say that educating today’s students about distracted driving can start a generational change.

“Your one and only goal is to get from point A, to point B, and to get there safely,” Eileen Miller said. "Not to be doing everything else in that vehicle."