South Carolina officials are preparing to implement a new statewide hands‑free driving law that lawmakers signed this summer and that would take effect on September 1.
The legislation, which restricts motorists from holding or supporting mobile electronic devices while operating a vehicle, would impact roughly 4 million licensed drivers in South Carolina.
Newsweek reached out to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster’s office via email for comment.
Why It Matters
Lawmakers and public safety officials said the law aimed to reduce distracted driving, which state officials linked to thousands of collisions annually in South Carolina, and to bring state rules in line with other states moving to hands‑free restrictions.
What To Know
Under the “Hands‑Free and Distracted Driving” law, drivers would be prohibited from holding or supporting a mobile electronic device with any part of their body, from using devices to read, compose or send texts, emails or other app interactions, and from watching motion‑based content such as videos, movies, games or video calls while driving.
Penalties would begin with a $100 fine for a first offense; subsequent violations would carry a $200 fine and two points against the driver’s license.
The Department of Public Safety said it would issue warnings for the first 180 days after the law took effect, with ticketing and point assessments slated to begin February 28 next year.
Robert Woods, director of the Department of Public Safety, signed the bill on July 31, saying, “We recognize that this law will cause a very significant change in driving habits for many drivers. So, we will educate first.
“We are confident this law will prevent collisions and save lives.
“It is important to know that our troopers and officers of the Department of Public Safety, working in cooperation with our local law enforcement partners, will strictly enforce this law.”
In 2021, South Carolina had over 3.9 million licensed drivers, increasing to 4,091,650 licensed drivers by 2022, according to GoodCar.com.
What People Are Saying
State Representative Bill Taylor, the bill’s sponsor, at its signing: “I have been an outspoken advocate for a strong hands‑free law for nearly eight years now. The issue of highway safety is near and dear to me, and I am thrilled to see all the progress that South Carolina is making to keep our citizens safe as they travel through our great state.”
What Happens Next
The Department of Public Safety plans to run a multimodal public education campaign that would use billboards, radio and social media to inform drivers before enforcement shifted from warnings to tickets.
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