Hands free driving act — South Carolina Permit Test

Under the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, you must not physically hold or support a mobile electronic device with any part of your body while driving on a public road.

Holding a device takes a hand and attention from the wheel, so the law bans the holding itself, not just calls.

Physically hold or support a mobile electronic device with any part of their body,

The Hands-Free Act bans reading, writing or sending any form of text while driving, including emails and interactions with applications.

Reading and typing take your eyes off the road for seconds at a time, which is long enough to miss a hazard entirely.

Read, write or send any form of text, which includes, but is not limited to, text messages, emails, interactions with applications, or information from websites,

The Hands-Free Act bans viewing moving images while driving, including videos, movies, games and video calls.

Moving images are built to hold attention, which pulls the driver's eyes away from the road for long stretches.

View moving images, including, but not limited to, videos, movies, games, or video calls.

The Hands-Free Act does not restrict using earpieces or wrist-worn devices for voice-based communication.

Voice calls through an earpiece or watch leave both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

This law does not restrict the use of earpieces or wrist worn devices for the purpose of conducting voicebased communications.

A first offense under the Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act carries a $100 fine.

The fine sets a cost on the first violation before points start building on the driving record.

First Offense: $100 fine

A second or later offense under the Hands-Free Act carries a $200 fine and 2 points on your driving record.

Repeat offenders are put on the points system so continued phone use can lead toward suspension.

Second and Subsequent Offenses: $200 fine and two points on your driving record

Under South Carolina's Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, what may you not do with a phone while driving?

Hold or support it with any part of your body. Holding a device takes a hand and attention from the wheel, so the law bans the holding itself, not just calls. South Carolina Driver's Manual, p.36: “Physically hold or support a mobile electronic device with any part of their body,”