How new driving laws are making road safety a bigger priority

States are tightening laws

In 2025, several states, including Iowa and Colorado, implemented or tightened hands-free laws that bar holding a phone while driving or stopped in traffic. These measures prohibit holding a mobile device while driving or stopped in traffic and elevate violations to a primary offense.

Penalties have increased with higher fines and license points, reflecting a national commitment to reducing distractions, which remain a leading cause of accidents and fatalities on American roads.

Ignition interlock

Ignition interlock devices, which prevent a car from starting if alcohol is detected on a driver’s breath, are increasingly required for DUI offenders in many states. However, current technology mostly restricts only vehicle startup rather than providing continuous real-time monitoring. 

Although research continues on passive alcohol detection systems, widespread implementation of real-time impairment monitoring is not yet mandated by law as of 2025.

Cities are lowering speed limits

Urban centers like San Francisco and New York are adopting new speed limits, especially around schools, parks, and busy pedestrian areas, to improve safety. These cities are also redesigning streets by adding curb extensions, speed bumps, and improved crosswalk lighting. 

Such infrastructure changes, aligned with Vision Zero strategies, aim to reduce the number and severity of pedestrian crashes, protecting vulnerable populations like children and seniors.

Speed-limiting tech

While Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology is being tested in certain government and commercial fleets, it is not yet broadly needed by law.

While there’s no broad U.S. requirement for ISA in all private vehicles, Washington, D.C., and Virginia now allow judges to order speed-limiting technology for certain reckless-driving cases (Virginia’s program begins July 1, 2026).

Electric vehicle safety laws

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more prevalent, regulatory bodies such as the NHTSA are updating safety standards related to electrical system integrity and crashworthiness. 

However, no widespread laws specifically mandate fire-resistant battery shielding or uniform emergency towing procedures for EVs. Emergency responders continue to receive updated guidance on EV incidents; however, most EV-specific safety regulations remain under development or are voluntary rather than codified.

Automated enforcement

Automated traffic enforcement is becoming more prevalent, with many cities expanding speed cameras, red-light cameras, and school-zone monitoring systems. These technologies help enforce speed limits and reduce violations without requiring physical police presence. 

Successful programs in states like New York and Maryland have led to safer school zones and fewer speeding infractions and crashes, encouraging other municipalities to adopt similar measures for improved road safety.

Helmet laws

Despite ongoing advocacy efforts, 2025 did not see significant changes to motorcycle helmet laws across the United States. Only a minority of states have universal motorcycle helmet laws; most require helmets only for some riders (often under 18 or 21).

Safety experts continue to emphasize helmet use to reduce fatalities and severe injuries, but legislative momentum for universal helmet mandates remains limited at this time.

Vision Zero

Vision Zero initiatives to eliminate traffic deaths continue to guide urban planning and policy changes in many cities. These plans influence decisions on speed limits, pedestrian right-of-way laws, and street designs that calm traffic. 

Cities like New York, Portland, and San Francisco are redesigning intersections and improving pedestrian crossings, contributing to measurable decreases in traffic-related injuries and fatalities over recent years.

Some states increase penalties

Some states, including Virginia and Georgia, have recently elevated penalties for dangerous driving behaviors such as street racing, excessive speeding, and fleeing law enforcement. 

These actions often reclassify certain reckless driving offenses as felonies, allowing for stiffer fines, longer jail terms, and extended license suspensions. While these stricter laws are not yet nationwide, they reflect a growing recognition of the risks reckless driving poses to public safety.

Teen driver laws

Most states continue to enforce Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) systems without a significant overhaul. However, some have introduced modest improvements, such as longer nighttime driving restrictions and enhanced parental notification systems when teens commit violations. 

These incremental updates seek to reduce crash risks among young drivers, though the overall framework and key provisions of teen driving laws remain largely consistent with prior years.

License suspensions

To promote equity and reduce the impact of non-safety-related offenses, states like California and Virginia have adjusted policies limiting license suspensions due to unpaid fines or minor infractions. 

These reforms focus on maintaining driver privileges unless serious safety violations occur, aiming to keep people mobile while prioritizing road safety by targeting dangerous behaviors for suspension instead.

Safety for cyclists

Multiple states, including Oregon and Colorado, require a minimum passing distance of at least three feet when overtaking cyclists. Cities are increasingly investing in protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and intersection improvements that prioritize micromobility users. 

However, requirements for delivery vehicles or commercial fleets to install cyclist-detection technology are still limited and mostly voluntary rather than legally mandated.

“Move Over” laws

All 50 states have “Move Over” laws that require drivers to change lanes or slow down for emergency vehicles stopped on the roadside. In 2025, some states have broadened these laws to cover additional vehicles such as tow trucks, maintenance vehicles, and disabled vehicles with hazard lights. 

Enforcement enhancements include increased fines and automated camera systems to deter violations and improve roadside safety.

Proposals

Although there is growing support among policymakers and advocacy groups to reduce in-person traffic stops for minor vehicle violations such as broken lights or expired registrations, no state has fully enacted legislation to implement mailed citations exclusively. 

This remains a developing concept with potential benefits for reducing police-citizen interactions, but there has been no broad legal adoption as of 2025.

AV regulations

Federal agencies, such as the NHTSA, and state regulators are developing voluntary guidelines for autonomous vehicle (AV) safety, including protocols for manual override and emergency fallback systems. 

However, no binding laws currently require AV manufacturers to include specific human override controls or disclose detailed emergency procedures. Federal oversight currently relies on voluntary programs, such as NHTSA’s AV TEST and Voluntary Safety Self-Assessments, while binding standards are still emerging.

Want to stay informed? Ford and Lincoln recently recalled over 800,000 vehicles for a safety issue.

Transparency laws

Several states have enacted laws requiring law enforcement agencies to collect and publicly share detailed data on traffic stops, crashes, and enforcement actions. Pennsylvania, for example, publishes real-time traffic stop outcomes to promote accountability. 

Additionally, cities like Austin and Seattle utilize publicly accessible crash maps to inform residents and guide safety improvements, fostering a culture of transparency and data-driven road safety policy.

Stellantis just recalled over 219,000 U.S. vehicles for a rearview camera issue. So don’t wait to check if your car is affected.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.