KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — State leaders kicked off an effort to prevent and cut down on distracted driving on April 1. Law enforcement agencies across Tennessee joined the state's Highway Safety Office for Operation Hands Free. It began on the first day of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
As part of the operation, the safety office organized a statewide bus tour meant to crack down of drivers who violate the state's hands-free law.
According to state law, drivers cannot hold a mobile device on any part of their body while driving, and cannot write, send or read any text-based communication. Drivers also cannot legally "each for a cellphone or mobile device in a manner that requires the driver to no longer be in a seated driving position or properly restrained by a seat belt."
During the Operations Hands Free bus tour, people on the bus spot distracted drivers. Law enforcement on the bus also stay on the lookout for traffic violations and if they spot a traffic violation, they radio patrol vehicles about it.
"The message is, 'We're watching, we're going to hold you accountable if you're distracted, if you're impaired, if you're not wearing your seatbelt, speeding, any type of violations such as that.' We're going to hold you accountable," said Stacey Heatherly, a Tennessee Highway Patrol captain.