Improving Driver Safety Act of 2015

Summary: Improving Driver Safety Act of 2015 This bill adds a new requirement for distracted driving grants to states under national priority highway safety programs. To receive a grant a state's prohibition on texting while driving must:   include distracted driving issues as part of their driver's license examination, and not make an exception that specifically allows a driver, especially one under age 18, to text through a personal wireless communication device while stopped in traffic.  DOT may use up to 50% of amounts available for grants to states that:    in FY2016 certify that they have enacted a basic text messaging statute for drivers of all ages, make violation of the statute a primary offense, participate in the annual distracted driving law enforcement mobilization, and are otherwise ineligible for a grant; and   in FY2017 meet the aforementioned requirements, impose increased fines for repeat violations, and have a statute that prohibits a driver younger than 18 from using a personal wireless communications device while driving.  States may use grant funds for:    enforcement of distracted driving laws, and   highway safety program projects.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall report to Congress on any legal and technical barriers to capturing data on the prevalence of the use of wireless communications devices while driving, including recommendations on how to address those barriers.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Driver Safety Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 2. DISTRACTED DRIVING INCENTIVE GRANTS.

    Section 405(e) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``includes distracted 
        driving issues as part of the State's driver's license 
        examination and'' after ``any State that'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking the period 
                at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) does not provide for an exception that 
                specifically allows a driver to text through a personal 
                wireless communication device while stopped in 
                traffic.'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (C);
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as 
                subparagraph (C);
                    (C) in subparagraph (C)(ii), as redesignated, by 
                striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
                and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) does not provide for an exception that 
                specifically allows a driver younger than 18 years of 
                age to use a personal wireless communication device 
                while stopped in traffic.'';
            (4) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ``section 31152'' and 
        inserting ``section 31136'';
            (5) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) Distracted driving enforcement grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary may use up to 50 
                percent of the amounts available for grants under this 
                subsection to award grants to any State that--
                            ``(i) in fiscal year 2016--
                                    ``(I) has a basic text messaging 
                                statute, as determined by the 
                                Secretary, that--
                                            ``(aa) is applicable to 
                                        drivers of all ages; and
                                            ``(bb) makes violation of 
                                        the basic text messaging 
                                        statute a primary offense;
                                    ``(II) participates in the annual 
                                distracted driving law enforcement 
                                mobilization coordinated by the 
                                Secretary; and
                                    ``(III) is otherwise ineligible for 
                                a grant under this subsection;
                            ``(ii) in fiscal year 2017--
                                    ``(I) meets the requirements under 
                                clause (i);
                                    ``(II) imposes increased fines for 
                                repeat violations; and
                                    ``(III) has a statute that 
                                prohibits drivers who are younger than 
                                18 years of age from using a personal 
                                wireless communications device while 
                                driving.
                    ``(B) Use of grant funds.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clauses (ii) 
                        and (iii), amounts received by a State under 
                        subparagraph (A) may be used for activities 
                        related to the enforcement of distracted 
                        driving laws.
                            ``(ii) Fiscal year 2016.--In fiscal year 
                        2016, up to 15 percent of the amounts received 
                        by a State under subparagraph (A) may be used 
                        for any eligible project or activity under 
                        section 402.
                            ``(iii) Fiscal year 2017.--In fiscal year 
                        2017, up to 25 percent of the amounts received 
                        by a State under subparagraph (A) may be used 
                        for any eligible project or activity under 
                        section 402.''; and
            (6) in paragraph (9)(A)(i), by striking ``, including 
        operation while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a 
        traffic light or stop sign, or otherwise''.

SEC. 3. BARRIERS TO DATA COLLECTION REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall submit a 
report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) identifies any legal and technical barriers to 
        capturing adequate data on the prevalence of wireless 
        communications devices while driving; and
            (2) provides recommendations on how to address such 
        barriers.