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Posted in Blog on January 28, 2020
Distracted driving is nothing new. However, the increase in technology in our lives has significantly increased the number of distracted driving accidents on the roadways. Distracted driving accidents often lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Most states have passed certain restrictions on how a person can use cell phones while they are driving. Georgia’s hands-free law went into effect on July 1, 2018 with the implementation of HB 673.
Pursuant to Georgia law, drivers in Georgia are prohibited from the following:
This law makes it illegal for drivers to hold their phones for just about any reason, except during emergencies. The only time a driver can touch their phone is to receive or end a call. Drivers are not allowed to watch videos or listen to music through their earbuds. Drivers are allowed to use GPS on their phones as long as they program the destination before they start driving. Drivers are allowed to talk on the phone (even with a headset) as long as they are doing so hands-free.
The Georgia hands-free law makes a distinction between being parked and being stopped. If a driver is parked legally, they are allowed to use their phone for any purposes, including calls, texts, browsing the Internet, or anything else. However, if a driver is simply stopped (at a red light, stop sign, in traffic, or anywhere else on the roadway), then the hands-free law still applies.
There are limited exemptions to the Georgia hands-free law. These exemptions include:
There is a range of penalties that drivers could face for violating Georgia’s hands-free law. This includes:
Georgia’s hands-free law his design to keep everyone on the roadway safe. Distracted driving is incredibly dangerous and can lead to serious injuries in the event an accident occurs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 3,000 people were killed on US roadways due to distracted driving during the latest reporting year. Many thousands more were injured and were left dealing with the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of the devastating car crash.