Seat, mirrors, steering and the hands free law

Key points

1. Sit about 10 to 12 inches back from the steering wheel.

   Source: Handbook p. 27

   “Your body should be about 10 to 12 inches back from the steering wheel with or without an air bag.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 27

2. Set head restraints level with the back of your head to prevent whiplash if hit from behind.

   Source: Handbook p. 27

   “Properly adjust seat head restraints to a level even with the back of the head. Head restraints are designed to prevent whiplash if hit from behind.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 27

3. Never drive with the seat reclined or semi reclined; it reduces your vision and ability to react.

   Source: Handbook p. 27

   “DO NOT DRIVE WITH THE SEAT IN A RECLINED OR SEMI-RECLINED POSITION. This is dangerous and reduces both your vision and your ability to react to emergency situations.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 27

4. Even with good mirrors, always turn your head to check blind spots before turning or changing lanes.

   Source: Handbook p. 27

   “Even with properly adjusted mirrors, always turn your head and check blind spots when you want to turn or change lanes.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 27

5. Hold the wheel with your left hand at 9 o'clock and your right hand at 3 o'clock.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “Looking at the steering wheel as a clock face, drivers should place the left hand at the 9 o’clock position and the right hand at 3 o’clock position on the steering wheel.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 28

6. Coasting with the gears in neutral is illegal.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “Don’t coast with the gears in neutral (it’s illegal) or with the clutch pedal pushed down except when shifting gears.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 28

7. Never turn the ignition to the lock position while moving, or the steering wheel will lock.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “never turn the ignition to the lock position when the vehicle is in motion The steering wheel will lock when trying to turn and the control of the vehicle will be lost.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 28

8. The hands free law bans holding a phone with any part of your body and writing, sending or reading texts.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “(a) hold a cellphone or mobile device with any part of their body, (b) write, send, or read any text-based communication,”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 30

9. It also bans watching a video or movie, or recording or broadcasting video, on a phone.

   Source: Handbook p. 30

   “(d) watch a video or movie on a cellphone or mobile device, and (e) record or broadcast video on a cellphone or mobile device.”
   Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 30

10. Drivers 18 or older may not use a hand held phone in a marked school zone while its flashers operate, unless hands free.

    Source: Handbook p. 30

    “it is an offense for persons 18 years or older to use a hand-held mobile phone while a motor vehicle is in motion in any marked school zone in this state, when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation. There is an exception if the phone is being used in hands free mode.”
    Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Handbook p. 30

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Tennessee practice test

1. 1. According to the Tennessee manual, sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for at least how long?

   1. About 1 second
   2. A minimum of 5 seconds
   3. About 2 seconds
   4. At least 10 seconds
   Show answer

   A minimum of 5 seconds. The manual puts a hard number on texting so drivers stop guessing. Reading or sending a text takes your eyes off the road for a minimum of five seconds, and at highway speed that is longer than a football field covered blind. One or two seconds is what most people believe, which is exactly why the manual states the real figure. Ten seconds overstates it. The practical lesson is that no message is short enough to be safe while the vehicle is moving, so the phone stays down until you are stopped somewhere off the travel lanes.

2. 2. How many crashes each year are linked to cell phone use while driving, according to the Tennessee manual?

   1. 1.6 million
   2. About 100
   3. About 50 million
   4. About 10,000
   Show answer

   1.6 million. Cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes every year, and distracted driving killed 3,142 people in 2019. In Tennessee a distracted driving crash happens every 26 minutes and 13 seconds. The state's Hands Free law makes holding a phone a primary offense, and teens with learner or intermediate licenses may not use a phone at all. Sending a text takes the eyes off the road for several seconds at a time.

3. 3. How often does a crash involving a distracted driver occur in Tennessee, according to the state's crash network?

   1. Once a day
   2. Every 26 minutes and 13 seconds
   3. Every 5 hours
   4. Once a week
   Show answer

   Every 26 minutes and 13 seconds. According to Tennessee's integrated traffic analysis network, known as Titan, a crash involving a distracted driver occurs in Tennessee every 26 minutes and 13 seconds. Nationally cell phone use leads to 1.6 million crashes a year. Preset navigation and music before driving, and pull off the road if a call or message cannot wait. Even a hands free conversation divides attention.

Source: the Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, Section B-1: Getting Familiar With Your Vehicle. 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.