DRIVERS are still getting tripped up by new hands-free laws as states try to crackdown on phone use behind the wheel.
The rules ban holding or handling phones while driving, with penalties starting at $100 for first offenses.
Another state now faces $100 fines for holding or handling their phones while driving (stock)[/caption]
South Carolina is the latest state to enforce the law, which went into effect September 1.
Drivers there must now rely on hands-free methods like voice commands, phone mounts, or earpieces.
Exceptions include using phones while parked, stopped, reporting emergencies, or for navigation and audio purposes.
First responders are also exempt when on duty.
Violators face $100 for first offense, with repeat offenses within three years costing $200 and two points on their license.
Authorities are offering a six-month warning period before fines are enforced.
The law aims to reduce distracted driving and shift culture toward safer habits.
Other states have rolled out similar measures.
Pennsylvania’s ‘Paul Miller’s Law’ bans phone use even at stoplights, but fines won’t start until June 2026.
Iowa introduced its hands-free law July 1, with $100 fines kicking in January 2026 after a grace period.
Louisiana’s version started last month, with fines rising to $250 in school zones or construction areas.
Distracted driving remains a serious problem, especially among younger drivers.
A survey by Insurify found 68% of Gen Z admit to texting or messaging while driving.
Many rely on Bluetooth or voice-to-text features, assuming they are safer.
Gen Z Behind the Wheel
Risky behaviors:
- 54% eat while driving (highest among generations)
- 32% drive tired
- 15% engage in heated arguments in the car
- 13% let pets sit on their lap
Tech-savvy habits:
- 56% use Drive Mode, CarPlay, or Android Auto (vs. 18% of boomers)
- 64% play music via phone hands-free
- 54% use phones for directions
- Majority make hands-free calls and texts; some have messages read aloud
Insurance & safety tech:
- 41% use apps or devices to monitor driving for better rates
- Gen Z leads all generations in using technology to drive smarter
Perception:
- Only 30% believe their generation drives safer than others, compared to 63% of boomers
How the study was conducted:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American drivers online between March 18–25, 2025, split evenly by generation. Participants were recruited via opt-in online panels and programmatic methods, with quality checks to exclude speeders, bots, duplicates, or irrelevant responses. The survey was in English, and respondents received points with small cash-equivalent value. Data is not weighted, and results only include cells with at least 80 respondents.
Cambridge Telematics data shows that even hands-free use increases crash risk.
Nearly one in three collisions happen within a minute of phone interaction.
The problem is less about fumbling with devices and more about overconfidence.
Small compromises, like replying at red lights or skimming messages, still split attention.
Around 32% of Gen Z drivers wait until parked, but the rest engage while the car is in motion.
Voice-to-text is used by 21%, keeping hands free but not the mind.
The result is a higher accident rate: 7% for Gen Z, compared with 3.5% for baby boomers.
DUI rates also lead the generation, at 1% versus 0.3% for boomers.
NHTSA reports distraction caused 13% of injury crashes and 8% of fatal crashes in 2023.
Teens aged 15-20 are particularly at risk, with fatal crash rates 1.7 times the national average.
Even drivers confident in technology aren’t immune.
Philadelphia is addressing road dangers separately, adjusting speed limits on Broad Street.
A 60-day grace period starts September 15 before $100 fines take effect.
Speed cameras will be installed at 14 key locations after 14 fatalities were reported in 2024.
HANDS OFF
Currently, there are 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands, where drivers are prohibited from using hand-held cell phones while driving.
Across these states, law enforcement officers can generally ticket a driver for using a hand-held cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.
Some states, however, don’t have a complete ban on hand-held devices, but may instead have restrictions for specific groups – like novice drivers or school bus drivers.
What’s more, most states ban texting while driving.
The aforementioned 33 states are:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
