New Oklahoma law makes it illegal for drivers to hold phone in school, construction zones

KOSU By Sierra Pfeifer

October 22, 2025

It will be illegal for Oklahoma drivers to hold a cell phone while driving through active school or construction zones, starting next month.

The new law, which goes into effect Nov. 1, aims to reduce distracted driving in high-risk areas where pedestrians and road workers are present.

Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, who authored the legislation, said she’s been working for several years to modernize Oklahoma’s distracted driving laws.

"Distracted driving is extremely, extremely dangerous," Miller said. "And it's on the rise and really becoming a very strong subset of impaired driving."

As technology has evolved, the number of ways a driver can be distracted has increased, Miller said. Cell phones, car navigation systems, smartwatches and other devices are all competing for attention.

View the full article: KOSU.org