As of Monday, new rules took effect in South Carolina limiting the use of electronic devices behind the wheel. Drivers are now prohibited from holding or supporting a phone and other gadgets while the vehicle is moving, even if they are not texting.
The measure expands the previous ban on texting while driving. The law covers a broader range of common actions people typically do while driving that distract attention, from scrolling through a news feed to searching for information on the internet.
Which actions are banned
The new regime effectively shifts the state to a model in which only hands-free options are allowed. The law is broadly worded to cover typical scenarios in which a driver holds a phone in their hand or rests it on their palm, even if the screen is used only briefly.
The restrictions cover more than just messages. The list includes actions that are often seen as less risky, although they also require visual attention and cognitive focus—that is, mental bandwidth for making decisions in a traffic situation.
The key prohibitions are as follows:
- any holding of a device in the hand or resting it on the hand while driving
- reading and sending text messages and emails
- scrolling through social media and reading content
- watching video
- games
- searching the internet and viewing web pages
Permitted options and important caveats
At the same time, the law does not prohibit using communications as such. Permission remains for methods where hands stay on the wheel and the driver’s eyes are not fixed on the screen longer than necessary to operate the vehicle.
It is separately stipulated that a phone may be used if it is mounted in a holder or on the dashboard. The key condition remains the same in the meaning of the law: the device must not be in the driver’s hand.
The following methods are permitted:
- Bluetooth and other hands-free calling options
- voice input, including voice to text
- using a device mounted in a holder or on the dashboard, provided the driver is not holding it in their hands
In practice, the wording about physical holding becomes central, because it is easier to explain and potentially easier for an officer to observe and cite. At the same time, critics of similar rules in other states have often pointed out that using a screen in a mount can also be distracting, meaning some risks remain.
Grace period and penalties
The law is being introduced with a grace period. In the first six months after it takes effect, police will issue warnings only, so that drivers have time to change their habits and switch to hands-free scenarios.
After this period ends, starting in March, fines and points on the driver’s record will take effect. For the American system, this is an important mechanism, because points often become grounds for insurance rate increases.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Bill Taylor, emphasizes that the goal of the initiative is related to safety, not to increasing the number of fines. He describes driving with a phone in hand as “driving blind” and claims it is six times deadlier than drunk driving.
There is also an economic rationale. According to Taylor, two points can lead to higher insurance costs, and distracted driving is already affecting the market in such a way that everyone ends up paying indirectly, including careful drivers, through higher rates.
From a motorcycle trip to a passed law
Taylor links the emergence of the idea to a cross-country motorcycle trip in 2017. At that time, he says, it became noticeable on the roads that many drivers were looking at their screens instead of the lane ahead, and this made trips less safe, especially for vulnerable road users.
He submitted the first version of the initiative under the name DUIE, short for driving under the influence of electronics. After several unsuccessful attempts, the law was passed in 2024, and South Carolina became the 33rd state to enshrine a hands-free approach in law.
Which smartphone-use scenarios are especially dangerous
Even simply scrolling through a news feed already actively distracts a driver while the vehicle is moving, but there are even more dangerous cases. First and foremost, these include typing messages in messaging apps, which forces the driver to focus actively on the gadget. It is no less risky to play mobile games, even simple arcade games or card games.
All the more so, you should not play online casino games behind the wheel, when an emotional factor is added to the already distracting process. In South Carolina, despite the ban, there are quite a lot of people who gamble on gaming platforms. These can include slots, roulette, and card games. Thus, according to search results, more and more players prefer to play andar bahar casino game, and this card game requires a lot of attention. Blackjack or poker require even more attention. Therefore, you should not play them behind the wheel under no circumstances.
Rounding out the list of the most dangerous uses of a smartphone behind the wheel is watching—and especially recording—video. Such actions completely divert vision and reduce reaction time.
Public awareness campaign and an attempt to change behavior
Supporters of the law emphasize that a formal ban is not enough without changing habits. As a benchmark, they cite the example of how, over time, drunk driving became socially unacceptable, and this became entrenched not only in fines but also in public attitudes.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has already launched a public awareness campaign. It includes roadside message boards, reminders at the DMV, and advertising that is funded in part by a portion of collected fines. Police frame the approach as a reminder that driving is viewed as a privilege that comes with responsibility for others’ safety.