In early 2019, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) released a series of new license plates available to motorists as authorized by Act 91 of 2018. Among these was the Distracted Driving Awareness plate, which has since been available for motorcycles and passenger cars and trucks at a cost of $40 in addition to the applicable registration fee. The proceeds from the cost of this plate are used exclusively to advance public education and outreach on the dangers of distracted driving.
 
Act 91 also set an expiration date for the issuance of the Distracted Driving Awareness plate. The need for public education on distracted driving will likely continue well beyond the December 31, 2025 expiration as accidents due to distracted driving now surpass the number of accidents related to drunk driving. Last year, distracted driving was the cause of 10,529 crashes and 57 fatalities in Pennsylvania.
 
To address this, I am introducing legislation that will simply eliminate the expiration date for the Distracted Driving Awareness plate, making it a permanent offering from PennDOT. Education on the dangers of distracted driving is needed now more than ever and we should not be eliminating a source of funding for this critical need. Please join me in co-sponsoring this commonsense legislation.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 3113: 75-1358.2(b)