Earlier this month, the NTSB urged cell phone manufacturers to install lock-out mechanisms after a deadly crash in Wisconsin.

The distracted driving safety alert followed a recent investigation of a fatal crash in Wisconsin linked to cell phone use while driving.

The agency released the final report for the Wisconsin investigation of the deadly crash that occurred in Excelsior on May 12, 2023.

In that crash, a 17-year-old pickup truck driver failed to stop in time for a stopped school bus and struck and killed a 13-year-old student waiting to board.

The investigation determined the driver did not react in time because he was texting on his cell phone while driving.

The new safety alert outlines steps that drivers, passengers, and message senders should take to avoid distracted driving, such as using “Do Not Disturb” or “Driving Focus” phone settings to prevent distraction while driving and not calling or texting someone who you know is driving.

The NTSB is reiterating its 2020 recommendation that cell phone manufacturers install lock-out mechanisms that automatically disable distracting features while driving.

The agency is also recommending that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration develop a new driver distraction guideline on the design of current in-vehicle, portable, and aftermarket electronic devices.

In 2023, there were 64,979 crashes involving drivers using cell phones, resulting in 397 deaths.

Research has shown that drivers who text are more than twice as likely to be involved in a crash than drivers who are not distracted, the NTSB alert stated.

Texting while driving is prohibited in all states except Montana.

Using a handheld cell phone while driving is prohibited in 31 states (some exceptions exist for navigation tasks). In addition, many states prohibit cell phone use of any kind by novice drivers, teen drivers, and school bus drivers.