Distracted Driving

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the fastest-growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves—they are a danger to everyone else on the road.

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

According to the MichiganTrafficCrashFacts.org 2021 Distracted Driving Fact Sheet, a total of 16,543 crashes occurred in Michigan which involved a distracted driver of a motor vehicle in 2021.

The following tips can help keep you from being distracted and make you and those around you safer:

• Use your phone’s Do Not Disturb feature or an app to silence calls and texts.
• If you must make or take a call pull over to a safe location and park your vehicle.
• Place your phone in the glove box or elsewhere to curb the urge to look at it.
• Ask a passenger to help navigate, change the music, or monitor your texts.

As of July 1, 2010, MCL 257.602b prohibits texting while driving.  For a first offense, motorists are fined $100.  The fine for subsequent offenses is $200.

More Information on Distracted Driving can be found at OHSP Distracted Driving or at through the Kiefer Foundation.