Reviewed by: Liv George
Alabama’s hands-free driving law goes into effect this month
You may already know about Alabama’s Hands-Free Law that passed last year. Well now, that law is officially going to be enforceable in June.
Drivers will not be allowed to have a cell phone or any other electronic device in their hands for any reason while driving. In most cases, anything more than a single touch or swipe is against the law.
Keep reading to find out more about the law + why it is expected to make Alabama roads safer.
‘Makes our highway safer for everybody’
Distracted driving has become a leading cause of traffic injuries and fatalities in our state. According to Drive Safe Alabama, cell phone related crashes are one of the fastest growing causes of traffic crashes in Alabama and continue to increase each year.
Other states already have similar laws in place and have seen a positive impact with less distracted driving and less crashes caused by cell phone usage.
“We know, looking at these laws in other states that have been in place for a while, it makes a big difference in the level of safety. It makes our highway safer for everybody.”
~ Clay Ingram, AAA Alabama
Ingram said AAA ran a survey in recent years and most people know distracted driving is an issue. According to the survey, 95 percent of people said it was either a serious or a very serious issue. However, 34 percent of people still admitted to texting while driving in the previous 30 days.
The hands-free law is not just for texting though as it will always force drivers to make any calls through a hands-free device including:
- Speakerphone
- Earpiece
- Wireless headset
- Connecting phone to vehicle
Ingram said looking for a car with bluetooth capability should be a part of the car-buying process for people.
Enforcing the law
While the law was officially passed in 2023, it is just now becoming enforceable. However, Ingram said there have been studies showing distracted driving is already down since the bill was passed.
“I think it’s going to make a big difference. I think the challenge now is educating people about it and letting everybody know that it is illegal to drive with a phone in your hand now.”
~ Clay Ingram, AAA Alabama
While someone cannot be pulled over for holding their phone, it can be an added offense for other traffic violations. Punishments would include:
- First violation – Ticket, $50 fine, and one point on driver’s license
- Second violation – $100 fine, two points on driver’s license
- Third violation – $150 fine and three points on driver’s license
- More than three violations – License suspension
Do you think the hands-free law will make Alabama roads safer? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
