What drivers need to know about Paul Miller’s Law

• Asia Tabb
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  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
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 Robert F. Bukaty / AP Photo

FILE PHOTO: In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, a driver uses his cell phone while driving in Portland, Maine.

aired; June, 17, 2026

A Scranton woman’s tireless crusade in the memory of her son has led to stronger distracted driving laws that took effect this month in Pennsylvania.

In 2010, a distracted truck driver searching for a cell phone crossed a grass median and crashed head-on into 21-year-old Paul Miller’s vehicle, killing the East Stroudsburg University student.

A van carrying 12 people behind Paul also collided with the tractor-trailer on Route 33 in Monroe County. In the years following the crash, Paul’s mother, Eileen Miller, dedicated herself to making sure her son’s death was not in vain. She spent 14 years advocating for stronger distracted driving laws in Pennsylvania.

On a recent episode of The Spark, state Department of Transportation Safety Press Officer Fritzi Schreffler and Lower Allen Twp. Police Officer Katie Justh discussed the human cost of distracted driving and lasting impact of Paul’s story.

Schreffler said crashes like Paul’s affect far more than the victim. Families, friends, first responders, witnesses, and the responsible driver can carry the emotional weight for years.

“No parent should have to go through that,” Schreffler said. According to PennDOT, distracted driving contributed to thousands of crashes. In 2023 alone, 3,275 people were killed nationwide in distracted-driving-related incidents.

 Pennsylvania’s new Paul Miller’s Law prohibits drivers from using handheld devices while operating a vehicle, including while stopped at red lights or stop signs. The law makes distracted driving a primary offense, meaning officers can stop drivers solely for violating it.

As summer travel season brings more traffic onto Pennsylvania roads, officials say now is the time for drivers to rethink their habits behind the wheel.

Justh said many people underestimate how quickly a crash can happen. “It only takes a second,” she said.

Learn more about Paul Miller’s story, the law that bears his name, and what drivers need to know to stay safe this summer by listening to the full conversation on The Spark podcast.