“Blue-Tooth” Okay! Hands Free to Drive!

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 4, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

On May 2nd Governor Deal traveled to Statesboro to sign H.B. 673, The Hands-Free Georgia Act, which becomes law July 1st. Parents of the five nursing students killed in a 2015 crash on I-16 were among attendees of the ceremony at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport at 2 p.m. Wednesday, when Georgia became the 16th state to enact a hands-free driving law. States with similar laws reported a 16 percent decrease in traffic fatalities within two years, and further decreases beyond that.

Georgia’s current ban on texting, emailing and internet browsing while driving remains intact, but has been expanded. The new law makes it illegal for drivers of motor vehicles to hold or physically support a mobile phone or other device such as an iPad, iPod, or Kindle while driving. Also, drivers cannot write, send or read a text-message, an instant message, email or internet data or view videos while operating a motor vehicle.

Drivers of motor vehicles may communicate by phone on a hands-free basis and may touch their phone for dialing, receiving or ending a call as long as the individual is not holding or supporting the phone. Drivers may use a phone for GPS directions and voice-to-text, a speakerphone, Bluetooth, earpiece, headphone, smart watch, or other hands-free devices. Continue reading →