Kentucky Lawmaker Sets Sights on Passage of Heightened Distracted Driving Laws
As distracted driving continues to take a devastating toll on Kentucky families, one state lawmaker is making a renewed push for stronger roadway safety measures. Republican Rep. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon, who will enter his final legislative session before retiring in 2026, recently presented the “Phone-Down Kentucky Act” to fellow legislators. The bill aims to significantly tighten the state’s distracted driving laws and reduce the number of preventable crashes happening on Kentucky roads each year.
Higdon presented the proposal during the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation alongside Louisville resident Alyssa Burns, whose two-year-old daughter, Camberleigh, was killed in a 2022 distracted driving crash. Burns shared her heartbreaking story with lawmakers, recounting how their vehicle was stopped in traffic on Interstate 71 when a distracted driver slammed into them from behind. The collision resulted in fatal injuries to little Camberleigh and left Burns with memory loss and brain trauma. The driver who caused the crash was not criminally charged, despite a finding that they were “not properly watching the roadway ahead.”
The emotional testimony underscored Higdon’s message: that distracted driving remains one of Kentucky’s most urgent roadway dangers. According to the 2023 Kentucky traffic collision report, 814 people were killed in traffic crashes that year, and more than 20% of those fatal collisions involved driver distraction, inattention, or cell phone use. Higdon told lawmakers that each time he hears of a traffic fatality, from head-on collisions to pedestrian deaths, he wonders whether distraction was the root cause. “And I believe a majority of the time, that’s what caused the accident,” he said.
The proposed “Phone-Down Kentucky Act” would require drivers to use hands-free technology for mobile devices while driving. Under the draft bill, drivers would be prohibited from holding a phone, texting, reading messages, watching videos, or scrolling on screens while operating a vehicle. The bill would provide limited exceptions for first responders performing official duties. Higdon noted that the legislation goes beyond Kentucky’s current texting-while-driving ban, which has been in place since 2011. While previous attempts to pass stricter distracted driving laws have failed, he remains optimistic that lawmakers can agree on a solution this time.
For Louisville and statewide drivers, the proposal highlights how quickly a moment of inattention can lead to catastrophic harm. If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted-driving crash, it is crucial to understand your rights under Kentucky personal injury laws. When a driver fails to pay proper attention to the road, whether by texting, browsing a phone, or simply failing to look, this negligence can make them legally responsible for your injuries. Accident victims may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
If you were injured in a car accident in Louisville by a distracted or otherwise negligent driver, do not hesitate to get legal help today. Contact the experienced Louisville distracted driving accident lawyers at Haney Law, PLLC. Contact Haney Law, PLLC today and speak with a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
kentuckylantern.com/2025/11/04/kentucky-republican-hopes-to-ban-distracted-driving-with-2026-legislation/