Hands-Free


Keeping our hands where they belong


Our hands - a marvel of natural engineering! The human hand can grip, grasp, hold or get finer with our motor skills to pick up things and use tools with precision. We touch, feel and express ourselves with our hands. Sometimes in the quietness of words, our hands can speak more than we do. We cannot start to imagine what we would do without them and empathize with people who are unfortunate to lose them or marvel at those who find ways to live productively despite losing them. While we can do so much with our hands, the one thing we are reminded of time and again is to keep our hands where they belong!

Curious little babies and kids! As they learn new ways to use their hands, they find the diceiest places to poke and prod. It is like they are a magnet to anything dangerous. Sharp objects, electrical outlets, and anywhere they can stick their hands and fingers into are very special, including but not limited to their little noses and ears and mouths. From that tender age parents remind kids to keep their hands where they belong - in a safe place. 

They grow older and naughtier, hiding stuff in their hands, behind their backs in an ingenious attempt to outsmart their parents. The image comes to mind, of the little naughty Kanha hiding the butter He stole while his face smeared in it is giving it all away and his mother Yashoda reminding him to keep his hands where they belong. They grow older and smarter(!) and when caught playing video games come up with excuses like “I got the Alien Hand Syndrome (from Dr Strangelove) and my hand is playing even though I don’t want to…”. Or when a hand creeps into a bag of candies in the pantry to pull out a couple of handfuls and the load of candies are for “friends”. They are warned and reminded to please keep their hands where they belong. And when they go out with their friends the same reminder in big, bold, red letters!

It is time again for a reminder! To remind our young drivers, as well as ourselves, to keep our hands where they belong - on the steering wheel of the car. Massachusetts “hands-free” law is in effect starting Feb 23rd 2020. Though drivers under 18 are not allowed to use phones in any way, including hands-free mode, while operating a vehicle. The first offense results in $100 and a 60-day loss of license; a second offense $250 and 180-day loss and a third comes with a $500 fine. If parents are concerned about young drivers, an option is to have kids turn on GPS at all times during the drive or use GPS enabled safety apps. A good, though not always convenient way is for young drivers to send a “starting drive”/”ending drive” messages.

Adults are allowed to use hands-free such as blue-tooth or speakerphone. Though adults can be warned (grace period until March 31st) or fined for holding a phone, looking at a phone, or operating a phone at a stop light. So it is best to enable hands-free before starting to drive. Phones can be used for navigation or for calling emergency services.

I have myself been a defaulter in the past. I have thought that is it ok to quickly look at some texts or emails during a stop. Or I have started a call while driving. I have taken it casually thus far. Though this new enforcement is a reminder for me that I need to keep my hands where they belong!

image credit : mass.gov

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