South Carolina Finally Bans Texting and Driving

On Monday June 9th, the state of South Carolina took a historic step in improving safety for motorists on the roads. A bill banning texting and driving statewide was signed into law. While many local municipalities within South Carolina had already passed bans, the new law standardizes the rules across South Carolina and makes it simple and easy for motorists to understand that they should never be texting when behind the wheel.

While the law does not go as far as many safety advocates would like, it will hopefully reduce the serious dangers of distracted driving. Victims injured in collisions may also have an easier time taking legal action to recover compensation for motor vehicle collision losses. Because victims can now demonstrate that a texting driver broke a safety rule, the plaintiff in a personal injury or wrongful death claim will have an easier time proving that the distracted driver was negligent.

Accident attorneys in South Carolina can help victims of distracted driving accidents to pursue a damage claim and obtain compensation for motor vehicle collision losses. Call McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC today to speak with an attorney about how we can assist you with your damage claim.

South Carolina’s New Texting and Driving Ban

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) South Carolina was the 44th state in the country to impose a law banning texting and driving. As soon as the bill was signed, the ban went into effect. However, for the next 180 days, law enforcement officers will only issue warnings for drivers pulled over, and motorists will not be fined or cited for texting and driving.

The South Carolina law makes texting and driving a primary offense, which will make it easier to enforce the ban. For secondary offenses, law enforcement officers can cite a driver for violation of the law only if the driver is pulled over for another infraction first. However, because texting is a primary offense, drivers can now be pulled over even if the only thing they are doing wrong is sending or reading a text while they drive.

Although it is good news that the texting ban is a primary offense, the fines in South Carolina are some of the lowest in the country. For a first offense, the fine is just $25. This is also significantly lower than some  local bans that used to be in effect in jurisdictions throughout South Carolina before the statewide law took precedence.

Safety advocates are also concerned that the law still allows a driver to enter information into a phone GPS and to dial and talk on a cell phone while driving. This could make the law harder to enforce because a texting driver could try to argue he was really just dialing his phone. Furthermore, drivers can still text when they are stopped at red lights or stop signs.

Still, the law is a step in the right direction and will hopefully help to improve safety throughout South Carolina.

South Carolina car accident attorney Johnny Felder is ready to help victims. Contact McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC at 803-327-7800 or visit https://www.mcgowanhood.com for a free case consultation.