Are you allowed to use a handheld phone while driving in Washington?

Are you allowed to use a handheld phone while driving in Washington?

• A. Only in residential areas.
• B. Yes, if you are not in school zone.
• C. Yes, if you are at a stop.
• D. No; use a hands-free device.

Answer: (D)

In Washington, you cannot hold or cradle a wireless device while operating a vehicle on the road. The law requires you to use a hands-free setup—such as Bluetooth, a car’s built-in system, or a speakerphone—if you need to use the device. This rule exists to minimize manual and cognitive distraction that can lead to crashes, no matter where you are or what zone you’re driving in. You’re allowed to use hands-free features or voice commands, and you can make emergency calls to 911 if needed. If you must read or type something, pull over to a safe location. So the best approach is to set up any navigation or calls hands-free before you drive and avoid holding the phone at all while the vehicle is moving.

In Washington, you cannot hold or cradle a wireless device while operating a vehicle on the road. The law requires you to use a hands-free setup—such as Bluetooth, a car’s built-in system, or a speakerphone—if you need to use the device. This rule exists to minimize manual and cognitive distraction that can lead to crashes, no matter where you are or what zone you’re driving in. You’re allowed to use hands-free features or voice commands, and you can make emergency calls to 911 if needed. If you must read or type something, pull over to a safe location. So the best approach is to set up any navigation or calls hands-free before you drive and avoid holding the phone at all while the vehicle is moving.