Will Georgia’s new hands-free driving law make you safer? [photos]

Sgt. Kevin Denny with the Walker County Sheriff's Office speaks to a motorist after stopping the individual for a seatbelt violation Friday, June 22, 2018 in Walker County, Georgia. To cut down on car crashes and traffic fatalities, police in the Georgia will enforce a new Ҩands-freeӠlaw when the law goes into effect July 1. Sgt. Kevin Denny with the Walker County Sheriff's Office speaks to a motorist after stopping the individual for a seatbelt violation Friday, June 22, 2018 in Walker County, Georgia. To cut down on car crashes and traffic fatalities, police in the Georgia will enforce a new Ҩands-freeӠlaw when the law goes into effect July 1.

By Tyler Jett June 24, 2018 7 min read

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Will Georgia’s new hands-free driving law make you safer?

Cpl. Jeff Herpst with the Walker County Sheriff's Office relays information to the Walker County 911 center during a stop Friday, June 22, 2018 in Walker County, Georgia. The new

Cpl. Jeff Herpst with the Walker County Sheriff's Office writes a ticket for a tag violation Friday, June 22, 2018 in Walker County, Georgia. Starting July 1, tickets can also be written under the new

Sgt. Kevin Denny with the Walker County Sheriff's Office Friday, June 22, 2018 in Walker County, Georgia. The new hands free law will go into effect in Georgia on July 1. With the new

Sgt. Kevin Denny with the Walker County Sheriff's Office looks up information on his computer during a traffic stop Friday, June 22, 2018 in Walker County, Georgia. With the new

Tennessee

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Tennessee drivers are required to keep their hands off their phones only when they drive through a school zone.

Traffic Fatalities by Year, Georgia

2012: 1,1262013: 1,0852014: 1,0802015: 1,3292016*: 1,422Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Center for Statistics and Analysis*2016 figures are not final

Traffic Fatalities by Year, Tennessee

2012: 9292013: 9112014: 8932015: 8882016*: 966Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Center for Statistics and Analysis*2016 figures are not final

More Info

Change in Traffic Fatalities, First Year With Hands-Free Law: 4 percent decrease*Nationwide Change in Traffic Fatalities Those Years: 1 percent decrease*Average for 14 states with hands-free driving laws

States with hands-free driving laws

CaliforniaConnecticutDelawareGeorgia*HawaiiIllinoisMarylandNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkOregonRhode Island**VermontWashingtonWest Virginia*Begins July 1**Began June 1