You are stopped at a red light when a text message arrives on your handheld phone. The light will stay red for about a minute. What does South Dakota law allow?

Correct answer: Leave the text alone until you have parked lawfully, out of traffic

Why

Texting takes your eyes, your hands and your mind away from driving, and the light can change or a pedestrian can step out at any moment. The law has exceptions, such as phone calls, emergency calls, GPS that you do not type into, and hands-free voice use, but reading or sending a text by hand is not one of them. A driver with an instruction permit or a restricted minor's permit may not use any wireless device while driving.

Verified against South Dakota Driver License Manual · Driver Distractions · p. 19