With college and high school students returning to classes, more teenagers are on our roadways, and we urge parents to reinforce the dangers of distracted driving and to model good behavior. 

Young drivers — and all drivers for that matter, please put the phone down.

Texting and driving kills and it is against the law. 

You have all heard about serious injuries and deaths caused by distracted driving but our roadways are still full of people texting and driving. 

Georgia’s “hands-free” law is intended to protect everyone — the driver, passengers and everyone else on the roadways. 

It is disappointing but the state law doesn’t appear to have even made much of a dent in the number of people texting and driving.

The law prohibits drivers from having a phone or stand-alone electronic device in their hands or touching any part of their body while operating a motor vehicle on Georgia roadways.

A Bluetooth speakerphone, earpiece, electronic watch or wireless headset is allowed so long as it is not being operated by the driver’s hand. The use of GPS and navigational devices are allowed but drivers cannot have a phone in their hand or supported by any part of their body.

The law is designed to prevent cellphones from interfering with a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle and keep attention on the road.

The law allows drivers to use “hands-free” technology to make or receive phone calls and use GPS devices, but drivers cannot at any time use their phones to write, read or send text messages, e-mails, social media and internet data. The use of voice-to-text technology is allowed, state highway officials have explained.

The hands-free law also prohibits drivers from watching videos as well as recording videos, though GPS navigational videos and continuously running dash cams are permitted.

You can listen to music through streaming apps on their phone, but they cannot activate their apps or change music through their phone while driving. Music streaming apps programmed and controlled through the vehicle’s radio system are allowed. Music streaming apps that also have video are not allowed since the law specifically prohibits drivers from watching videos.

Still confused about what you are allowed to do when driving? 

Simply put, you cannot have a phone in your hands or on any part of your body if you want to make or receive a phone call or use GPS.

You cannot legally text, e-mail or surf the internet on your phone at all when you are driving.

Pay attention to the roadway, concentrate on your driving and put the phone down.