What Georgia’s New Distracted Driving Law Means for You

If you’ve seen an increase of law enforcement on the roads this summer, it’s likely due to the new distracted driving law that took effect on July 1, 2018. With this law, it is now illegal to hold a phone in your hand while driving, meaning you will have to use a hands-free device. The law is intended to reduce traffic fatalities on Georgia roadways.

Distracted Driving Legislation Details

If you’re one of the roughly seven million drivers that travel on Georgia roads each year, it’s important to understand the details of this new law. The law bans more than just holding your cell phone while driving. To stay within the law, make sure you don’t:

  • FaceTime or Skype
  • Hold a wireless device such as a phone or iPod
  • Read, write, or send any form of electronic communication
  • Watch videos (unless it is navigation-related data)

However, there are certain tasks you can still perform under the new distracted driving law. Consider the following:

  • Ask Siri to complete a task for you
  • Communicate using the voice-to-text feature
  • Make one swipe to answer a phone call
  • Use an earpiece to talk on the phone
  • Wear and use a smart watch

It’s important to note that if you witness an emergency-related situation such as a car accident or fire, you can use your phone to call the authorities.

Penalties Associated with the Distracted Driving Law

If you are caught breaking the distracted driving law, you will receive a fine. The fine is calculated based on how many times you’ve broken the law. You may also receive points on your license.

The team at Kicklighter Law encourages you to adhere to the new distracted driving law. Unfortunately, even if you follow every traffic law and take precautions to drive safely, you may still get into a car accident due to someone else’s negligence. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact the Kicklighter attorneys today.