“OPERATION GHOST RIDER” TARGETS DISTRACTED DRIVERS IN MICHIGAN

Distracted Driving Awareness Month may have come to a close, but efforts to crack down on inattentive motorists intensified in April with the implementation of “Operation Ghost Rider.” This statewide campaign helps law enforcement officers target and ticket drivers using hand-held cell phones and engaging in other dangerous practices behind the wheel. The program, which uses unmarked vehicles to identify distracted drivers, aims to curb one of the leading causes of deaths and serious injuries resulting from auto accidents. It is designed to reinforce the messages disseminated by the National Safety Council during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which is observed in April.  

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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WHAT IS “OPERATION GHOST RIDER?”

“Operation Ghost Rider” is a statewide initiative intended to save lives and prevent injuries by reducing the number of distracted driving-related crashes. Law enforcement officers ride in the passenger seat of unmarked “spotter vehicles.” When the spotter observes a distracted driver, a fully-marked law enforcement unit is dispatched to initiate a traffic stop and issue a citation if necessary.

Participating state, county, and local law enforcement agencies include Michigan State Police, Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, in addition to police departments from Auburn Hills, Chesterfield Township, Clinton Township, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Taylor, Troy and Utica.

The initiative is coordinated by the National Transportation Safety Organization (NTSO) and funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF DISTRACTED DRIVING?

Distracted driving is engaging in any activity that takes your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road and/or your attention away from the task of driving.

There are three main categories of distractions:

• Visual – anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road, such as looking at a cell phone or programming a GPS
• Manual – an activity that takes a driver’s hands off the wheel, such as texting or shaving
• Cognitive – any behavior that diverts a driver’s attention, such as daydreaming, loud music or conversations on the phone or with other passengers

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.

Recommended reading: Do You Need A Lawyer For A Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault?

WHICH OTHER DRIVING BEHAVIORS ARE CONSIDERED DISTRACTED DRIVING?

In short, if something takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off of driving, it is a distraction.

In addition to using cell phones, other distracting activities include:

• Eating and drinking, unwrapping food
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming activities such as shaving or putting on makeup
• Looking at a map or GPS screen
• Programming a navigation system
• Changing the radio station or audio app
• Listening to loud music
• Attending to children
• Bending down to retrieve an object from the floor

DISTURBING DATA ON DISTRACTED DRIVING

Approximately nine people per day are killed in accidents caused by distracted drivers across the U.S., according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

Young adult and teen drivers are more at risk for distracted driving than other age groups.

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

Although the penalties are much less severe, numerous studies show distracted driving is as dangerous as driving drunk in terms of impaired reaction time and reduced ability to focus.

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 blindfolded.

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

Recommended reading: The Three Types of Distracted Driving: What Every Michigan Driver Should Know

HAS THE HANDS-FREE LAW REDUCED DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENTS IN MICHIGAN?

Yes and no. While distracted driving-related crashes decreased in 2023 compared to the previous year, fatalities increased, according to the most recent statistics from Michigan State Police.

Crashes involving at least one distracted driver decreased from 15,441 in 2022 to 15,136 in 2023. However, fatalities resulting from those crashes rose from 57 in 2022 to 59 in 2023. Data from 2024 is not yet available.

Other statistics on 2023 distracted driving-related accidents in Michigan include:

• 2,940 (19.4 percent) of the 15,136 crashes involved a lane departure
• Approximately 5,490 (36.3 percent) took place at an intersection
• One bicyclist was killed and 43 other bicyclists were involved in distracted driving-related crashes
• Of the 112 pedestrians involved in distracted driving-related crashes, 11 were killed
• 14.8 percent of drivers were distracted by cell phone use
• 10.5 percent of drivers were distracted by another type of electronic device such as a navigation system or audio player
• 37.1 percent by some other activity inside the vehicle such as eating, drinking or personal grooming
• 4.8 percent of drivers were distracted by a passenger in the vehicle
• 32.8 percent of drivers were distracted by something outside the vehicle
• The top five Michigan counties for distracted driving crashes were Wayne (2,339), Oakland (2,132), Macomb (1,588), Kent (1,339), and Washtenaw (637)

NOTE: 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.

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

IS IT ILLEGAL TO USE A HAND-HELD CELL PHONE BEHIND THE WHEEL IN MICHIGAN?

Yes. Not only is it dangerous to drive while holding a cell phone, it is also illegal.   

A law passed in 2023 prohibits Michigan 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.

In addition, Kelsey’s Law, named for the young victim of a cell phone-related crash, prohibits all cell phone use for teen drivers with Level 1 or Level 2 graduated licenses. This includes hands-free or voice-operated modes, even if the phone is placed in a mount.

Recommended reading: Many Drivers Don’t Know Hand-Held Cell Phones Are Illegal: What Every Michigan Motorist Should Know About the New Distracted Driving Law

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

Disobeying Michigan’s distracted driving laws is considered a primary offense, meaning a law enforcement officer can stop a driver and issue a citation strictly for using a hand-held cell phone or otherwise violating the statute.

The following penalties may apply to drivers who violate the distracted driving laws. However, a driver charged with an additional traffic offense such as speeding or drunk driving may face more serious legal consequences.

• 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.

In certain situations, motorists are permitted to 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

Recommended reading: Is It Important to Obtain a Police Report After a Michigan Car Accident?

TIPS FOR AVOIDING CAR ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY DISTRACTIONS WHILE DRIVING

Most distracted driving accidents are preventable. Here are some simple ways to minimize distractions and stay focused on the road.

• Enable the safety features on your cell phone or use the “Do Not Disturb” mode in your car to prevent interruptions while driving
• Program your GPS before leaving your destination and pull into a parking lot or rest stop to make changes
• Set up music ahead of your trip
• Return calls and answer important texts or emails before setting out on the road or during rest stops
• 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 stop 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, we can help. 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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