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APRIL IS DISTRACTED DRIVING MONTH: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS DEADLY EPIDEMIC

Published by Bill Laubscher at April 30, 2024

April is Distracted Driving Month Poster

If you are still using a hand-held cell phone behind the wheel, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a good time to break this hazardous habit. Throughout April, police officers statewide, in cooperation with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, are ramping up enforcement of the hands-free law passed last year.

Read on to learn the facts about this deadly epidemic and why you need an experienced car accident lawyer if you are injured in a crash involving a distracted driver.

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DISTURBING DATA ON DISTRACTED DRIVING

The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates approximately nine people per day are killed in accidents caused by distracted drivers, despite numerous educational campaigns and laws prohibiting hand-cell phones in many states, including Michigan.

In Michigan, distracted driving was a factor in 15,441 crashes that resulted in 5,905 injuries and 57 deaths, according to the most recent traffic statistics from Michigan State Police.

Because distracted driving is not cited in many police reports, traffic safety experts believe the actual number of crashes involving distracted drivers is much higher than statistics reflect.

Distracted driving is as dangerous as driving drunk.

Taking your eyes and attention off the road for five seconds at 55 mph is comparable to driving the length of an entire football field while blindfolded.

Texting and other visual-manual tasks increase the risk of a crash by 83 percent, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The brain remains distracted for 27 seconds after interruptions such as texting with voice commands, placing or answering a call or changing a radio station.

Recommended reading: New Michigan Law Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phones

WHAT IS PROHIBITED UNDER MICHIGAN’S HANDS-FREE CELL PHONE LAW?

In 2023, Michigan legislators passed a law prohibiting drivers from holding cell phones or other mobile electronic devices to perform any of the following tasks while operating a motor vehicle:

Making or receiving calls
Sending, receiving or reading text messages
Using the internet to visit websites or search for information
Manually programming a GPS or navigation system
Viewing, recording or transmitting videos
Accessing, reading content or posting to social networking sites

The law defines “holding” as physically supporting the phone with any part of the hands, arms or shoulders, including tucking a phone between the ear and shoulder.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE HANDS-FREE LAW?

Drivers who violate the law may be subject to the following penalties. However, additional punishments may apply if the driver is charged with an additional traffic offense, such as speeding or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

First offense: $100 fine
Subsequent violations: $250 fine
Three or more violations: $250 fine plus mandatory driver’s education course

School bus or commercial vehicle drivers are subject to fines up to $500 per violation.

However, motorists may use hand-held cell phones to call or text 9-1-1 to report emergencies such as the following:

A traffic accident, fire, dangerous road hazard or medical emergency
A motorist who is driving recklessly and/or appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs
A crime in process

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF DISTRACTED DRIVING?

Distracted driving is defined as engaging in any activity that diverts attention from the task of driving.

There are three main types of distractions:

Visual – taking your eyes off the road
Manual – taking your hands off the wheel
Cognitive – taking your mind off your driving

While any one of these is dangerous, activities that involve more than one type of distraction are especially deadly. Texting while driving is one of the riskiest behaviors because it involves all three.

In addition to using a cell phone, even hands-free, other distracting activities include:

Eating and drinking
Talking to passengers
Grooming, shaving or putting on makeup
Reading, including maps
Programming a navigation system
Changing the radio station
Listening to loud music
Attending to children
Bending down to retrieve an object from the floor

TIPS FOR AVOIDING DISTRACTIONS WHILE DRIVING

Most distracted driving accidents are preventable. Here are some simple ways to minimize distractions and keep your focus on the road.

Enable the safety features on your cell phone to prevent interruptions during your drive
Program your GPS before leaving your destination and pull into a parking lot or rest stop if you have to make changes
Set up music ahead of your trip
Return calls and answer important texts or emails before setting out on the road
Ignore texts and other notifications while driving
Ask passengers to help with activities that may be distracting such as changing the radio station or tending to children
If something falls on the floor, let it stay there until you are safely stopped or ask a passenger to retrieve it
Be a good passenger by helping with kids and avoiding loud music and conversations

OUR EXPERIENCED CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS WILL WIN THE COMPENSATION YOU DESERVE!

If you or a loved one is injured in a car accident, call us first. Whether the crash was caused by a distracted driver or another type of reckless behavior, our knowledgeable car accident lawyers have the skills, experience and resources to win the compensation you and your family deserve.

Car accident law is complicated, but finding the right car accident lawyer is simple.

Don’t let the legal clock run out. Start your case today by filling out the brief form below or calling 1-800-CALL-SAM for a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our experienced legal team.

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