Illinois smart glasses driving ban continues ongoing efforts to restrict the techs usage but I kinda agree with this one

Date:
Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Illinois smart glasses driving ban gives cops license to pull over anyone
fear some -- Illinois is poised to be the first US state
to ban smart glasses of any kind while youre driving. Importantly, the bill makes no distinction between smart specs with a display and those without.

Once Governor JB Pritzker approves the bill, people caught flouting the rules could face fines of $75 (or $150 for repeat offenses) and the possibility of misdemeanor or felony charges if involved in a serious crash while wearing smart glasses. Other states, such as New York, have proposed bills limiting smart glasses use while driving, but so far none have progressed as far as Illinois has though that could soon change if states decide to take Illinois lead.

The hope is that this proposal will make roads safer by reducing distractions for drivers. While theres
possibly some advantage of drivers having, say, navigation on a HUD in front
of them to find their destination -- which is something Amazon is hoping to offer its delivery drivers with its own smart glasses -- attempting to text chat or watch a video on your glasses while driving is a terrible idea.

So, to discourage this kind of dangerous driving, its perhaps safer to just
ban smart glasses and avoid any possibility of temptation.

While many can agree that having a display
distracting you while you drive isnt ideal, some are questioning why non-display glasses which are completely hands-free and boast zero visual distractions are included in the ban.

Some have therefore wondered if theres an ulterior motive to Illinois smart glasses approach, or if its at least not very well thought out.

On the flip side, Illinois does have precedent for banning audio
distractions; headphones, earbuds, or other headsets that play audio into
both ears are illegal under the states vehicle code. One-ear headsets are generally allowed, and there are exemptions for some professions and audio devices that improve hearing, like hearing aids.

Because audio can be a major distraction while driving you might not hear sirens if you have active noise cancellation turned on, for example even in places where it isnt expressly against the law, it is advised against, and
can work against you if youre caught in an accident while immersed in your music.

Smart glasses dont fully immerse you because they have open-ear audio, but their audio notifications and music playing into both of your ears could
cause a distraction.

Additionally, because the tech is evolving so quickly, creating nuanced carve-outs today might lead to legal disputes or confusion down the line, especially as lawmakers arent known for being particularly tech-savvy. Theres
a simplicity to just banning smart glasses outright while driving.
Of course, these rules are just for one state, assuming they
get signed into law at all, but smart glasses regulation seems to be on the agenda for a growing number of local and national governments in an attempt
to curb bad actors.

So dont be surprised if similar rules start being proposed in your local
area, and be sure to follow any new smart glasses rules that are introduced
if you like using a pair.

Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/illinois -smart-glasses-driving-ban-continues-ongoing-efforts-to-restrict-the-techs-usa ge-but-i-kinda-agree-with-this-one

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