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What's being done to stop texting and driving in SC?

A recent report ranks SC as having the second worst drivers in the country, and distracted driving could be, in part, to blame.

SOUTH CAROLINA, USA — South Carolina is ranked number two in the nation for having the worst drivers, according to Forbes Magazine, and distracted driving could be, in part, to blame. 

It is illegal to text and drive in the Palmetto State, but the fine for getting caught is no more than $50.

Related: Texting and driving now illegal in SC

However, it is not illegal to hold your phone as long as you're not texting on it, which makes it "nearly impossible" for authorities to enforce the law, according to AAA Carolina's Spokesperson Ernie King.

"Obviously, if a person is holding their phone and a police officer pulls them over, they could very easily say, 'Well, I was just talking on the phone or I was using my GPS; I wasn't actually texting,' so, it's nearly impossible to enforce the current law," King said.

Two S.C. lawmakers are working to crack down on texting and driving by proposing stricter laws.

Aiken Representative Bill Taylor and Senator Tom Young have both proposed bills that push for hands-free driving, but those bills likely won't pass this session. 

Related: Sponsor: SC ban on drivers holding cellphones likely dead

King says AAA supports S.C. legislation that will make the roads safer and hopes to see something done soon.

"You text, you drive, you die," King said. "Sounds harsh, but it is the harsh reality that it's just that unsafe. You're really not paying attention when you have your eyes on that screen."

News 19's Street Squad discovered this story while talking to people in The Midlands. If you have a story idea you'd like to share, email StreetSquad@WLTX.com, use the #StreetSquad19 on Twitter. 

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