Is it allowed to use a handheld device for emergencies while driving?

Is it allowed to use a handheld device for emergencies while driving?

• A. Yes, anytime
• B. No, never allowed even in emergencies
• C. Only when the vehicle is stopped
• D. Only if it is an emergency

Answer: (D)

In New York, you generally must use a hands-free device and cannot hold a handheld phone while operating a vehicle. The specific allowance is that you may use a handheld device to contact emergency services if there is an actual emergency. This exception exists to ensure you can get help quickly in urgent situations, even though distracting handheld use is otherwise prohibited. So the best answer is that you may use a handheld device only if it is an emergency. The other options don’t fit because the rule isn’t “anytime” or “never,” and it isn’t limited to when the vehicle is stopped.

In New York, you generally must use a hands-free device and cannot hold a handheld phone while operating a vehicle. The specific allowance is that you may use a handheld device to contact emergency services if there is an actual emergency. This exception exists to ensure you can get help quickly in urgent situations, even though distracting handheld use is otherwise prohibited. So the best answer is that you may use a handheld device only if it is an emergency. The other options don’t fit because the rule isn’t “anytime” or “never,” and it isn’t limited to when the vehicle is stopped.