Tennessee’s Hands-Free Law
Tennessee lawmakers are hoping that distracted driving has already decreased since a new law took effect on July 1, 2019. Research indicates that Tennessee had the highest rates of deaths due to distracted drivers of any state in the United States from 2015 to 2017. In response to this data, legislators moved forward and passed the new hands-free law that limits the technology that drivers can use behind the wheel, hoping to curb distracted driving and related accidents.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security all worked together to start the “Hands-Free Tennessee” movement. This movement aims to ensure that every driver understands the new law and the dangers of failing to adhere to it.
The new law strictly prohibits any of the following while driving:
- Holding a mobile electronic device with any part of your body
- Sending, reading, or composing any type of text-based communication, including emails, text messages, social media messages, internet sites, and more
- Recording a video on a smartphone or broadcasting a live video from your smartphone
- Watching a video on your smartphone
- Reaching for a device in a manner that causes you to move from your proper position behind the wheel
You can still use GPS on a mobile device for directions, and you can still use your phone to call the authorities in an emergency situation. In addition, you can use hands-free technology in your vehicle to make and take calls, as well as use talk-to-text technology to listen to and respond to messages. If your phone is mounted in your vehicle, you may use one touch to answer or make a call, though it may not move your position in the driver’s seat.
The penalty for violating the new law is as follows:
- $50 fine for a first-time offense
- Three points on your driving record
- $100 fine if the violation caused a crash or you had two or more prior offenses
- $200 fine in an active school or construction zone
Hopefully, these penalties will be enough to stop distracted drivers, along with the hopeful reduction in risks on the roads in Tennessee.
Distracted Driving Causes Crashes
While every driver should know the risks of distracted driving, many people continue to use their smartphones for various tasks while driving. They may not truly recognize the danger of their actions until it is too late, and others have suffered serious injuries or death in a crash. If you or a loved one was hit by a distracted driver, you have the right to hold that driver responsible for your losses.
Consult with a Nashville Distracted Driving Accident Attorney at Bednarz & Bednarz
The car accident lawyers at Bednarz Law know that there will always be distracted drivers on the road, even with a strict hands-free law. We work to represent the rights of car accident victims and their families, so please call 615-256-0100 or contact us online for a free case evaluation today.