Here in Washington state it is only legal to use mobile technology if you can use it hands free. I can legally use an Apple Watch while driving for things like the following:
- Hey Siri - remind me to...
- Hey Siri - call my wife
- Hey Siri - take me home/to business name (and Siri will give me directions using haptic)
- I can also set up driving directions while stopped and then use haptic directions while driving
What I can't do is read text messages or stare at a tiny map on my watch, iphone, or any other device while driving. In Washington this is a primary offense you can get pulled over and fined for doing. I wish they actually enforced it more though. I see people texting on their smartphones while driving all the time. I bike and walk much more than I drive, so as a matter of survival I pay attention to what the drivers around me are focused on. For example I look for eye contact from the driver before crossing in front of a car. I want to know that they see me. Quite often I notice they have a smartphone in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.