Is it illegal to wear headphones or AirPods while driving in SC? Here’s what the law says

In South Carolina it’s against the law to hold your phone while driving.

It’s a new law to curb distracted driving that just recently went into effect, resulting in 3,400 citations in the first month.

But what about using headphones?

The South Carolina Highway Patrol says no statutes specifically prohibit wearing headphones or earbuds.

But they are quick to say using such devices while driving can “impede a driver’s ability to hear things going on around them in traffic (such as horns, sirens, etc) that may cause issues,” a spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Public Safety said.

Issues like more than 20,000 distracted driving collisions in the state each year, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety says.

Nationally, more than 3,000 people a year are killed in a vehicle crash caused by distracted driving.

South Carolina ranks seventh in the country for worst drivers, according to the South Carolina Department of Insurance. In addition, the state averages two crashes per hour that involve distracted drivers.

You can be cited if you’re in an accident and it’s found that headphones distracted you while driving. Not only that, but your insurance company can deny your claim if you were driving while distracted.

The Hands Free law that went into effect earlier this year prohibits drivers from holding a mobile device with any part of their body to read or send texts or emails, use websites, look at social media or movies and take calls.

Exceptions are using a device when parked or stopped, in hands-free mode or listening to audio contact without holding the device.

Law enforcement and first responders are exempt when on official business.

Penalties for violating the law are 1st offense - $100 fine and 2nd and subsequent offenses (within three years) $200 fine and two points on the driving record.