You may have already heard the news. On July 1, 2019 a new law takes effect in Tennessee making it illegal to hold your phone while driving.
To be specific Public Chapter 412, also known as the Tennessee Hands Free Law, makes it illegal for a driver to:
To be specific Public Chapter 412, also known as the Tennessee Hands Free Law, makes it illegal for a driver to:
a. hold a cellphone or mobile device with any part of their body
b. write, send, or read any text-based communication
c. reach for a cellphone or mobile device in a manner that requires the driver to no longer be in a seated driving position or properly restrained by a seat belt
d. watch a video or movie on a cellphone or mobile device
e. record or broadcast video on a cellphone or mobile device.
So does this mean you won't be able to make or receive calls while driving? That depends on your setup. There are some things you can do as a workaround that will keep you following the rules. For example, you could use an earpiece, a headphone device, or other hands free devices that incorporate bluetooth technology (like the steering wheel car kit shown below) and help keep your hands free from your phone. If your phone is not already set up to use voice based communication to send a text, you may want to start looking into that. You can practice using google assistant to call someone if their number is already saved in your contacts.
Some newer cars have all the bells and whistles for your phone to play through your car speakers. You may even have buttons on your steering wheel or dash board that allow you to use your phone without actually touching it. Your users manual for your car will walk you through how to set that up.
The new law states that drivers are not allowed to hold a phone with any part of their body. So at minimum you may want to think about having a phone mount for your car. This will allow you to view who is calling and it will prevent your phone from sliding around while the car is moving.
Depending on your phone and/or your provider, you may be able to manage incoming text by putting it in "Driving Mode." To do this with an android, go to text messaging on your phone. Then tap the three bars in the upper left corner. From the pull-down options, you will see Driving Mode. Tap the gray dot to switch to driving mode. You can turn it off when your trip is over. If you want to know what message will be sent while driving, do the following. Enter the text messaging app. Tap the three bars in the upper left corner. From the drop-down menu, choose Settings. That will provide a list of options. From those options, choose Driving Mode. That window will allow you to enter your Driving Auto-Reply Message.
Are you ready for this new law? Do you have other tips or suggestions? Please, post your comments below. I'd love to see what you think.
For more information about the Tennessee Hands Free Law, go to www.handsfreetn.com
Note: The author of this article is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees based on links to Amazon.com.
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So does this mean you won't be able to make or receive calls while driving? That depends on your setup. There are some things you can do as a workaround that will keep you following the rules. For example, you could use an earpiece, a headphone device, or other hands free devices that incorporate bluetooth technology (like the steering wheel car kit shown below) and help keep your hands free from your phone. If your phone is not already set up to use voice based communication to send a text, you may want to start looking into that. You can practice using google assistant to call someone if their number is already saved in your contacts.
Some newer cars have all the bells and whistles for your phone to play through your car speakers. You may even have buttons on your steering wheel or dash board that allow you to use your phone without actually touching it. Your users manual for your car will walk you through how to set that up.
The new law states that drivers are not allowed to hold a phone with any part of their body. So at minimum you may want to think about having a phone mount for your car. This will allow you to view who is calling and it will prevent your phone from sliding around while the car is moving.
Depending on your phone and/or your provider, you may be able to manage incoming text by putting it in "Driving Mode." To do this with an android, go to text messaging on your phone. Then tap the three bars in the upper left corner. From the pull-down options, you will see Driving Mode. Tap the gray dot to switch to driving mode. You can turn it off when your trip is over. If you want to know what message will be sent while driving, do the following. Enter the text messaging app. Tap the three bars in the upper left corner. From the drop-down menu, choose Settings. That will provide a list of options. From those options, choose Driving Mode. That window will allow you to enter your Driving Auto-Reply Message.
Are you ready for this new law? Do you have other tips or suggestions? Please, post your comments below. I'd love to see what you think.
For more information about the Tennessee Hands Free Law, go to www.handsfreetn.com
Note: The author of this article is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees based on links to Amazon.com.
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