How does Arkansas state law deals with use of cell phones while driving?

Full question:

What is the law in Arkansas relating to the use of cellular phones while driving?

• Category: Automobiles
• Subcategory: Traffic Laws
• Date: 04/07/2025
• State: Arkansas

Answer:

Generally, talking on a mobile phone while driving cause a driver to be distracted and increases the chance of accidents. Because of this, many state and local governments have made it illegal to use a cell phone while driving.

 

There is a popular misconception that driving while using a hands-free device is safer than using a hand held cell phone. A study by the Transport Research Laboratory concluded that hands-free phone conversations impair driving performance more than other distractions such as passenger conversations.

 

The consistency of increased crash risk between hands-free and hand held cell phone use is at odds with legislation that prohibits hand held cell phone use but allows hands-free. In the United States, hands free use of a cell phone while driving is not prohibited in any state. Since dialing buttons on a cell phone is more distracting than talking on a cell phone, hands-free devices that offer voice-dialing may reduce the risk of accidents to a limited extent.

Arkansas has detailed laws regulating the use of cellular phones while driving. Drivers between the age group of 18 to 20 years are banned from talking on a hand held cellular phone while driving. This law goes into effect on 10/01/2009. However, since this law is being enforced as a secondary law, an officer must have some other reason to stop a vehicle before citing the young driver for using a cell phone. School bus drivers are also banned from using the cell phone while driving. Starting 10/01/2009, all drivers are banned from texting while driving. Texting by all drivers and cell phone use by school bus drivers are laws that can be enforced primarily.