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. Using a handheld cellphone
   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

   Using a handheld cellphone. Illinois prohibits handheld cellphone use while a motor vehicle is operating. The manual separately permits cellphone use to report an emergency, while parked on the shoulder, or while stopped because normal traffic is obstructed when the vehicle is in neutral or park. Those exceptions do not turn ordinary handheld conversation into a permitted activity. The useful check is the vehicle’s operating status and the reason for using the device. If none of the listed emergency or stopped conditions applies, do not handle the phone while driving.

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. Who may not talk on a hands free phone while driving in Illinois?

   1. Drivers over 65
   2. Commercial drivers
   3. Drivers under age 19
   4. No one, hands free is legal for all
   Show answer

   Drivers under age 19. Illinois allows hands-free devices or Bluetooth technology only for drivers age 19 and older. A driver under 19 may not use a wireless phone while driving at all, even hands-free, except to contact law enforcement, a health care provider or emergency services in an emergency. Handheld phone use, texting and other electronic communications are banned for every driver, with narrow exceptions such as reporting an emergency or being parked on the shoulder. Age over 65 and commercial status are not the dividing line in this rule; age 19 is.

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.