Is it legal to use talk-to-text while driving in NC? Here’s what the law says
It’s illegal to text and drive in North Carolina, but most smartphones come with features that make it easier to send messages in the car.
Dictation on iPhones and voice-to-text on Android devices let users speak to enter and send messages on their phones.
Many newer vehicles are equipped with technology that allow drivers to send text messages without taking their hands off the wheel.
But is it legal to use these features while you’re driving?
Here’s what to know about the laws regarding talk-to-text on the road.
Can you use talk-to-text while driving in NC?
It is legal to use talk-to-text while driving in North Carolina, Master Trooper Christopher Casey, with N.C. State Highway Patrol, told The Charlotte Observer.
According to state law, drivers cannot text manually or read text messages while on the road.
While there’s no law against using talk-to-text, Casey said, it can be a form of distracted driving, which can lead to accidents.
Distracted driving, or “any activity that diverts attention from driving,” claimed the lives of more than 3,500 people in the U.S. in 2021, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“A lot of times with talk-to-text, even when your eyes are on the road and you’re not looking at a screen, whether you realize it or not, you are somewhat distracted,” said Casey. “A split second can be the difference between you braking, or plowing into the back of a car.”
Casey recommended that drivers ignore their phones while on the road, “unless it’s a life of death situation.”
“It’s best to just leave it alone,” Casey said. “If you absolutely need to text, pull over at the next exit or pull over at a gas station. Do whatever you need to do, but please don’t be distracted by your phones.”
