The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a distracted driving safety alert on July 1 after releasing the final investigative report of a 2023 crash in Wisconsin linked to cell phone use while driving.

The report revealed NSTB’s findings from a May 12, 2023, crash where a 17-year-old pickup truck driver failed to stop in time for a stopped school bus and struck and killed a student pedestrian in Excelsior, Wisconsin.

According to the report, “As the pickup truck approached the rear of the school bus, the driver braked and swerved the truck to the right, sideswiped the right-rear corner of the bus, continued across the paved shoulder onto a private driveway, and struck a 13-year-old student pedestrian who was waiting to board the bus.”

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

NTSB Renews Push for Cell Phone Safety Measures on the Road

The affiliated safety alert outlines steps 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 you know is driving.

As part of the Wisconsin investigation, the NTSB reiterates its 2020 recommendation that cell phone manufacturers install lock-out mechanisms that automatically disable distracting features while driving. NTSB recommends this feature be used as a default setting on all new devices and is applied during major software updates.​

The NTSB also recommends that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) develop new driver distraction guidelines on the design of current in-vehicle, portable, and aftermarket electronic devices.