Cambridge, MA — November 20, 2025 — Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), the world’s largest telematics service provider, today released new data showing that phone motion distraction dropped sharply in South Carolina after the state’s hands-free law took effect on September 1, 2025. In the first month, distraction declined by 7.6%, falling from 98 seconds per driving hour in August to 91 seconds in September. CMT estimates the reduction prevented 130 crashes, 50 injuries, and over $28M in economic damages.* CMT defines phone motion distraction as when a phone is being handled with its screen on while a vehicle is in motion.

The data reveals that distraction dropped quickly after the law began, falling 7.2% in the first week. The decline was more moderate in the following weeks, down 6.1% after two weeks, 5.6% after three weeks, and 4.9% after four weeks. 

The hands-free law has also had an impact on handheld call time. One month after the hands-free law took effect, handheld call time decreased by 5.4%, from 41 seconds per driving hour in August to 38 seconds in September. 

Handheld call time dropped by 9.7% in the first week of the law, falling from 40 seconds per driving hour to 36 seconds. In the following weeks, handheld call time gradually rose again but stayed below pre-law levels: 5.3% in week two, 4.8% lower in week three, and 1.7% lower by week four. 

We also looked at how distraction changed across South Carolina’s five most populous counties. Each of the counties saw a significant reduction in phone motion distraction time in the month after the law was passed. 

Greenville County, the most populous county in South Carolina, recorded the largest improvement among the top 5, with phone motion distraction time dropping 9% month over month. Charleston, Richland, Horry, and Spartanburg counties followed with distraction declines between 5% and 8.5%.

Zooming in on South Carolina Capital, Columbia

Using CMT’s StreetVision platform, we analyzed driving behavior in Columbia, South Carolina — the state’s capital and home to the University of South Carolina — to further examine local trends. The data show a 9.7% decrease in distracted driving in downtown Columbia. In August, drivers averaged 57 phone interactions per 100 miles, which dropped to 52 in September.

“South Carolina’s results show that hands-free laws deliver immediate safety benefits,” said Tim Vogel, General Manager of Public Sector at Cambridge Mobile Telematics. “When states take action to limit handheld phone use, drivers respond quickly, and lives are saved. Sustaining these gains depends on consistent enforcement and ongoing public awareness.”

South Carolina’s trends mirror those observed in other states with new hands-free laws: a sharp drop in distraction after implementation, followed by gradual increases as drivers adjust. CMT’s research shows that pairing hands-free policies with education campaigns helps maintain long-term reductions in distracted driving

*Estimates are based on changes in crash rates from distracted driving, combined with the average crash cost of $23,954 from NHTSA’s report The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019, and crash records reported by the State of South Carolina.

About Cambridge Mobile Telematics

Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) is the world’s largest telematics service provider. Its mission is to make the world’s roads and drivers safer. The company’s AI-driven platform, DriveWell Fusion®, proactively identifies and reduces driving risk, leading to fewer crashes and injuries, making mobility safer. To date, CMT’s technology has helped prevent over 100,000 crashes worldwide. CMT partners with insurers, automakers, commercial mobility companies, and the public sector to measure risk, detect crashes, provide life-saving assistance, and streamline claims. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, CMT operates globally with offices in Budapest, Chennai, Seattle, Tokyo, and Zagreb. Learn more at www.cmt.ai.