[jcranmer]

Distracted driving is now the leading cause of traffic accidents, above even speeding and drunk driving. That to me is a strong sign that it ought to be illegal.

Also, traffic infractions usually aren't crimes or misdemeanor in most jurisdictions.

[ItendToDisagree]

To be fair it probably always has been the leading cause. Especially if you include things like yelling at your kids to stop messing with each other, day dreaming, etc. The issue isn't that it is dangerous, the issue is that it is selectively enforced.

Also, regardless of the level of criminality, driving infractions can be/are selectively enforced. Being pulled over for being distracted can quickly lead to being arrested for some other offense, or for the police to search your car, or even for them to claim you were aggressive and shoot you dead.