People, let’s stop using our phones while driving! That includes while you’re sitting at a red light. Or in a traffic jam. It’s the law.
According to Police Chief, Billy Grogan, “A big safety concern for pedestrians and motorists alike is distracted drivers. To that end, Dunwoody officers have issued 1,174 citations since the new Hands-Free Law went into effect July 1, 2018. Bringing attention to this dangerous violation and gaining compliance is a priority for our department.”
A quick refresher on the Hands-Free Law:
- Drivers cannot have a phone in their hand or touching any part of their body while talking on their phone while driving.
- Even with hands-free technology, drivers cannot write, read or send text messages, e-mails, social media content and other internet data while on the road. (Voice to text is allowed)
- Drivers cannot watch videos when they are on the road. (Navigational/GPS videos are allowed)
- Drivers cannot use their phones or electronic devices to record video when they are on the road. (Continuously running dash cams are allowed)
- Drivers may listen to streaming music that does not include videos on the screen of their phone or device while driving but cannot touch their phones while on the road to activate or program any music streaming app. Streaming music that is controlled by and listened through the vehicle’s radio is allowed. Drivers who need to touch their phones to activate/program their music streaming apps must do so before getting on the road.
