Phones, distracted driving and traffic stops

Key points

1. Illinois bans handheld phones, texting and other electronic communication while driving.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Illinois law prohibits the use of handheld cellphones, texting, or using other electronic communications while operating a motor vehicle.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 22

2. Hands-free devices or Bluetooth are allowed only for drivers 19 and older.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Hands-free devices or Bluetooth technology is allowed for persons age 19 and older.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 22

3. Holding the phone on speaker is not hands-free and is illegal.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Using a cellphone while holding the device and using the speaker phone is not considered hands-free and is a violation of Illinois law.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 22

4. You may use a non-hands-free phone only to report an emergency, while parked on the shoulder or while stopped in blocked traffic in neutral or park.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “The only time you can use a cellphone that is not hands-free is: • To report an emergency. • While parked on the shoulder of a roadway. • While stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed, and the vehicle is in neutral or park.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 22

5. A single-sided headset or earpiece may be used with a phone while driving.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Using a single-sided headset or earpiece with a wireless/cellphone device is permitted while driving.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 22

6. When stopped by police, slow down, signal and safely pull onto the right-hand shoulder.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Slow down, activate turn signal, and safely pull over onto the right-hand shoulder of the roadway.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 21

7. Do not get out of your vehicle unless asked.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Do not exit your vehicle unless asked to do so.”
   Illinois Rules of the Road, Handbook p. 21

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Illinois practice test

1. 1. Which cellphone use does Illinois prohibit while operating a motor vehicle?

   1. Holding a cellphone while using its speaker phone
   2. Using a cellphone while parked on the shoulder
   3. Using a cellphone while stopped because normal traffic is obstructed, with the vehicle in park
   4. Reporting an emergency
   Show answer

   Holding a cellphone while using its speaker phone. Illinois prohibits handheld cellphone use while operating a motor vehicle. Holding the phone while using its speaker is still a violation; speaker mode does not make a held device hands-free. Exceptions include reporting an emergency, using the phone while parked on the shoulder, and using it while stopped because normal traffic is obstructed with the vehicle in neutral or park. Ordinary handheld conversation while driving meets none of those exceptions.

2. 2. Which situation is specifically allowed for using a non-hands-free cellphone in Illinois?

   1. Reading a social-media message at a red light
   2. Watching a video while moving in slow traffic
   3. Reporting an emergency
   4. Holding the phone on speaker while driving
   Show answer

   Reporting an emergency. Illinois lists reporting an emergency as an exception to the ban on cellphone use that is not hands-free. The other options still involve prohibited manual use or electronic activity while driving. A red light does not make video viewing or message reading acceptable, and speakerphone is not hands-free when the device is held. Use the emergency exception only for that purpose, and remember that pulling over safely is the better response whenever circumstances permit.

3. 3. What cellphone rule applies to an Illinois driver under age 19?

   1. Only texting is prohibited; hands-free calls are always allowed
   2. Hands-free use is required but otherwise unrestricted
   3. All wireless or cellphone use while driving is prohibited, including hands-free use, subject to an emergency exception
   4. Cellphone use is allowed if the vehicle is moving below 15 mph
   Show answer

   All wireless or cellphone use while driving is prohibited, including hands-free use, subject to an emergency exception. Illinois prohibits any wireless or cellphone use while driving for a driver under 19, including hands-free use. The manual allows an exception for an emergency contact with law enforcement, a health care provider, or emergency services. The texting-only answer narrows the ban too far, and the hands-free answer reverses the rule by treating hands-free use as generally permitted. Vehicle speed does not create a listed exception. Age is the first cue, then remember that hands-free technology does not remove the under-19 prohibition.

Source: the Illinois Rules of the Road, Chapter 4: Traffic Laws. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.