TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — With the summer travel season well underway, the Indiana State Police are reminding people about the state’s hands-free law.
Distracted driving claimed the lives of over 3,275 in the United States in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The hands-free law says drivers are not allowed to have a cellphone in their hands while behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Indiana Police Sergeant Matt Ames says the only exception is if you are using a cellphone to call 911.
He adds that drivers should be aware of the dangers that driving distracted poses to not only themselves but other people on the roads as well.
“A lot of the times people get behind the wheel, and they take off and they’re only concerned about themselves. But every other vehicle that’s out here traveling roadways, all those motorists, want you to make sure that you’re paying attention to what’s going on so you’re not getting involved in an accident,” said Ames “You know, typically a text takes about five seconds to send. If you’re traveling at 55 miles an hour, that’s the entire length of a football field.”
In addition to not driving distracted, Seargent Ames reminds drivers to watch their speed and to wear seatbelts.
