Smart glasses could be about to face some heavy restrictions for drivers

• Legislators in Illinois are already changing hands-free driving laws to address smart glasses.
• The state is preparing to explicitly deny smart glasses an exception for hands-free usage.
• The rule appears to apply equally to audio-only glasses and those equipped with displays.

Smart glasses feel like they could finally be right on the cusp of going mainstream, just like we saw with smart watches well over a decade ago. But not everyone’s excited about their burgeoning popularity, and pushback against certain aspects of the tech keeps building momentum, too. While some lawmakers are concerned about legislating requirements for mandatory recording lights, others are turning their attention to the use of smart glasses when you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Smartphone bans for drivers are already quite pervasive, with many localities forbidding anything but hands-free phone usage. You might think that smart glasses would get a pass then, on account of them being largely designed around hands-free operation, but we’re already starting to see progress on legislation to restrict their usage.