South Carolina Combats Distracted Driving

A traffic collision occurs every 3.6 minutes on South Carolina roads, with nearly 150,000 wrecks in 2023 alone. To put that in perspective, every time a new song starts on the radio, a crash will happen by the time that song is over. 

On September 1, 2025, South Carolina joins over 30 states in adopting a hands-free driving law. This law aims to curb distracted driving by prohibiting drivers from using mobile devices to “read, compose, or transmit texts, emails, app interactions, or website information” or watch any kind of motion video. Mobile devices may not be held in a driver’s hand or rest in their lap. 

Distracted driving is a major contributing factor in traffic collisions and fatalities. During our defensive driving courses, students learn why cell phones and other electronic devices are so dangerous behind the wheel. While our brains are capable of processing information very quickly, there are three types of distractions that make it impossible for us to focus on safe driving. Being a safe driver requires: 

• Visual focus: keep your eyes on the road. Even when looking straight ahead, a distracted driver may fail to “see” up to 50% of their driving environment due to inattention blindness. This means hazards, signals, and critical cues can be missed entirely.
• Manual focus: keep your hands on the wheel. Handling a phone or other object takes away physical control of the vehicle and adds dangerous delays when you need to react quickly.
• Cognitive focus: keep your mind on driving. Hands-free devices don’t eliminate cognitive distraction because your brain is still “attention switching” between the conversation and the road. This slows your reaction time and can lead to delayed braking or missed traffic signals, even if you never look away from the road. 

Research shows that talking on a phone - handheld OR hands-free - makes a driver four times more likely to be involved in an injury or property damage crash. 

SCNSC applauds the South Carolina legislature for taking an important step in making our roads safer. “The new hands-free law is a huge step in the right direction to improve public safety,” said Melissa Reck, Director of Traffic Safety. "By removing mobile devices from the driving equation, we can all do our part to reduce crashes, prevent injuries, and save lives.” 

The penalties for disobeying the hands-free law can be costly. The first offense is a $100 fine, but the second and subsequent offenses (within three years) will result in a $200 fine and two points on the driver’s license. During the first six months of the new law, officers will give warnings, but starting on March 1, 2026, tickets will be issued. Violations by CDL drivers will count as serious offenses, and can result in a 60-day disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Data Sources: South Carolina Department of Public Safety & National Safety Council