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SB 1408

Traffic Safety - As introduced, removes the prohibition on a person physically holding or supporting, with any part of the person's body, a wireless telecommunications device or stand-alone electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on a road or highway other than in a marked school zone or work zone; retains restrictions on activities such as texting on, reaching for, or watching or recording a video on such device while operating a motor vehicle on a road or highway. - Amends TCA Section 55-8-199.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Joey Hensley

Tennessee bill removes handheld device restrictions while driving on regular roads, allowing physical device holding despite safety concerns, while keeping texting and video bans.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation and Safety Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1408

Legislative bill overview

SB 1408 modifies Tennessee's distracted driving law by allowing drivers to physically hold wireless devices or electronic stands while operating vehicles on regular roads and highways, though it maintains prohibitions on texting, reaching for devices, and video watching/recording. The change exempts marked school zones and work zones from this permission.

Why is this important

This bill represents a significant shift in distracted driving regulations that directly affects public safety. Physical handling of devices while driving is associated with increased accident risk, and this change could increase such incidents on Tennessee roads while potentially reducing enforcement consistency across different zones.

Potential points of contention

  • Safety research conflict: Medical and traffic safety data consistently show that holding and manipulating devices while driving increases crash risk; this bill contradicts evidence-based safety recommendations
  • Selective enforcement complexity: Maintaining different rules for school zones/work zones versus regular roads creates enforcement challenges and potential legal ambiguity about zone boundaries
  • Retention of selective restrictions: The bill's retention of texting and video prohibitions while allowing device holding creates an odd regulatory middle ground—drivers could hold devices but not use certain functions, which may be impractical to enforce

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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