House Passes HB2263 to Expand Safety Measures Where It Matters Most
Distracted driving has long been a danger on Oklahoma roads—but now lawmakers are stepping up enforcement in areas where the risk is especially high. On March 18, 2025, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed House Bill 2263, a new measure designed to curb distracted driving in active school zones and construction areas.
The bill, authored by Rep. Nicole Miller (R-Edmond), builds on Oklahoma’s existing texting-while-driving ban by restricting the use of handheld cell phones in designated high-risk areas. Under the proposed law, drivers will still be allowed to use hands-free technology like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto—but holding the phone in your hand will no longer be allowed when passing through school or construction zones.
Why This Bill Matters for Oklahoma Drivers
Distracted driving continues to cause real harm across the state. According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, from 2017 to 2021, distraction behind the wheel was responsible for more than 8,000 injuries and 250 fatalities.
Research shows that drivers involved in accidents were twice as likely to have used their phones in the minute before the crash. School and construction zones are especially vulnerable areas, where visibility is limited, speed limits are lower, and the presence of pedestrians or workers makes even a momentary lapse in focus especially dangerous.
HB2263 hopes to address these concerns by creating a legal buffer that encourages safer behavior behind the wheel.
What HB2263 Would Change
If signed into law, HB2263 would make it illegal to hold or use a cell phone by hand while driving in an active school or work zone. The enforcement provisions would mirror Oklahoma’s current texting-while-driving penalties, and the law includes specific privacy protections—law enforcement officers cannot search or access a driver’s phone without a warrant or probable cause.
The bill passed the House with a 59-24 vote and has since been moved to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.
What Drivers Need to Know Now
If you're passing through a school or construction zone, now’s the time to make hands-free your default. While HB2263 still has to pass the Senate and be signed into law, the message from lawmakers is clear: distracted driving in vulnerable areas won’t be tolerated.
You can still use navigation apps or answer calls, but your device needs to be docked or voice-activated. Failing to make that adjustment could result in fines—and worse, you could seriously injure someone because your attention was somewhere else.
April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
This legislative push comes during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a time when safety advocates, law enforcement agencies, and community leaders across the country highlight the deadly impact of driving while distracted.
Distracted driving isn’t just about texting. It includes anything that pulls your attention from the road—scrolling on social media, checking GPS, eating, or even daydreaming. Unfortunately, too many drivers think they can multitask behind the wheel. The numbers say otherwise.
According to national data, more than 3,000 people die each year in crashes involving distracted drivers. Many of those deaths are preventable. Awareness campaigns this month seek to educate drivers, especially younger ones, on the life-altering consequences of distraction and the importance of keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Oklahoma’s HB2263 is part of that broader movement to make our roads safer and more predictable for everyone—drivers, pedestrians, schoolchildren, and roadside workers alike.
Injured by a Distracted Driver? Know Your Rights.
Even with tougher laws, distracted drivers remain a danger on Oklahoma roads. If you or a loved one was hit by someone who wasn’t paying attention, you deserve answers—and compensation.
At Lawter & Associates Attorneys at Law PLLC, we’ve been representing crash victims across Oklahoma for over 40 years. We know how to investigate these cases, gather the right evidence, and fight back when insurance companies try to deny or downplay your claim. Our Oklahoma City and Tulsa distracted driving accident lawyers are here to help.
Contact us today for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we win your case.
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