Todd: Hopeful for return to hands-free driving

After years of advocacy and countless preventable tragedies, South Carolina has joined the ranks of civilized states with a comprehensive hands-free driving law. The S.C. Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act takes effect Sept. 1, a monumental step forward for driver safety.

Too many drivers today treat their vehicles like mobile entertainment centers and offices – texting, scrolling social media, serving up movies and videos, or holding animated phone conversations – confident that their multitasking abilities will keep them from hitting something. But the statistics are sobering and inarguable, and the trucking industry knows better.

It seems everybody struggles with the compulsion, even professional drivers. But many of them have witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of distracted driving, and federal safety rules have prohibited their use of handheld devices since 2012.

Professional drivers and owners face severe penalties if they violate the rules, including immediate out-of-service orders and career-threatening violations on their commercial driving records. These aren’t arbitrary rules. They’re born from decades of safety research and real-world experience.

Truck drivers understand they are responsible for a large vehicle. Every second of inattention can mean the difference between safe arrival and tragedy. The double standard ends with this new state law leveling the field and extending similar prohibitions and protections to all of us.

The beauty of South Carolina’s new law lies in its clarity and enforceability. Unlike vague “texting while driving” statutes that require officers to prove specific phone activities, this law is straightforward: you cannot hold or support a mobile device with any part of your body while driving. Period. This removes the guesswork for both drivers and law enforcement.

The 180-day warning period starting on September 1 shows wisdom on the legislature’s part. Change takes time, and allowing drivers to adjust their habits before full enforcement begins on February 28, 2026 is reasonable. Ample DOT signage, which you may have already seen popping up, will serve as constant reminders.

Some argue that hands-free technology isn’t foolproof, that voice-activated systems can still cause distraction. They’re right that hands-free isn’t risk-free. But eliminating the physical manipulation of devices while driving removes the most dangerous component: taking your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind elsewhere. This rule is about harm reduction, not perfection. The highway presents too many variables and requires full attention and vigilance.

For the most earnest professional drivers, this law provides additional backing for the safety culture we strive to instill in all motorists. Real consequences for senseless violations will create a more consistent and safer environment for everyone.

Government has many roles, but none more fundamental than establishing rules that protect public safety on shared public infrastructure. This new legislation represents the government fulfilling its proper role: creating clear, enforceable standards that protect road users. The highway system belongs to all of us, and with that privilege comes responsibility.

We thank law enforcement in advance for the diligent enforcement to come. And we thank the General Assembly for the political will to give our citizens a hands-free law to meet the increasing challenges we face with faster and more crowded traffic.

No text, call, or social media post is worth the risk.

The road ahead will be safer.

Rick Todd is president and CEO of the S.C. Trucking Association.