Note that on July 1, New Hampshire's HB 1360 took effect. Commonly known as the hands-free law, it prohibits drivers from holding or manually imputing commands into electronic devices, such as cellphones, GPS units, mp3 players and tablets, while driving.

Under the law, drivers 18 or older can interact with their electronic devices via hands-free systems, like Bluetooth; drivers who are younger are prohibited from usinge electronic devices altogether, hands-free or not. Penalties for violating the law range from a $100 fine for the first offense, a $250 fine for the second offense, and a $500 fine for any subsequent offense in a 24-month period. Minors, however, can have their licenses either suspended or revoked.  

 

For most of us, the hands-free law will require slight adjustments to our everyday driving habits. We find ourselves conversing with Siri a bit too regularly now. 

(Me: "Siri, play the Allman Brothers." Siri: "Calling all your brothers.")

For many employers who use vehicles for their business and require employees to drive as a part of their jobs, transitioning to a hands-free world may require new technology and will require new vehicle safety policies. Most businesses require their employees to obey all local, state and federal regulations while traveling on company business. Before the new law, this meant that an employee could dial into meetings, place equipment orders, answer emails at a stoplight and make sales calls, all while on the go.

But in the hands-free world, that same employee must use hands-free voice commands to accomplish those same tasks. This can create tension between employer policies and employer business needs, because the law may prevent an employee from performing his or her duties while on the road, especially without proper technology. To read the whole article click on learn more below.