July 1st is going to be a big day for the state of Georgia. It’s the day that the Hands-Free Georgia Act (which bans the use of handheld cellphones while driving) will go into effect. Georgia is the sixteenth state to pass a hands-free driving law. The states that have passed such legislation have done so in an attempt to reduce traffic fatalities due to distracted driving. Distracted driving has gained a lot of attention because traffic-related accidents and deaths have increased over the past few years, and cell phones have been a major factor in that trend.
While many other states have passed hands-free driving laws, the legislation is now coming to Georgia. We’ll explain which states have hands-free laws, the reasoning behind the new legislation, and break down what is and is now allowed under the Hands-Free Georgia Act.