Georgia Hands-Free Driving Law

On July 1st, 2018, a new law was put into effect known as the Hands-Free Georgia Act. This new Act makes it much easier and safer for companies in the trucking business to regulate cell phone use. It is now against the law for drivers to hold their phones in their hand while driving in the state of Georgia. They are allowed to talk, text, and listen to music as long as they are using a hands-free technology.

Herschel Evans, the two-time national truck driving safety champion, told WSB/AJC penalties that hands-free restrictions are 50 times worse for drivers in the trucking industry as the consequences of distracted driving can cause more serious damage and can be much more dangerous than a normal vehicle crash. Not only will the driver be held responsible, but the employer is at risk as well. “There can be an $11,000 fine for any trucking company that does not hold a policy restricting cell phone use while driving,” said Evans.

With this new Act put into play, it decreases the number of distracted drivers and holds stricter rules for mobile use while driving. Phone mounts are a necessity for truck drivers on the road.

Estes Trucking now uses a service called Cellcontrol that allows employers to track drivers’ phone use and behavior behind the wheel. This app allows employers to control what apps and features their employees use while driving. It even tracks how hard the driver uses their brakes.

While distracted driving is not necessarily a new issue, it is still one of the biggest causes of accidents on the road today. With this new law in the state of Georgia, lives will be saved and accidents will be prevented, something we all should support.

For more information regarding the new law signed by Gov. Nathan Deal, click here.