COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – How are you doing in putting that phone down while driving?
June 30 marked the the one-year anniversary of Michigan joining the majority of states in passing a hands-free driving law that bans motorists from handling their phones while on the road. But some police say it doesn’t seem to be working as quickly as they’d like.
Despite Michigan police issuing 19,463 citations that resulted in 14,364 convictions, as of June 24, according to data Michigan Supreme Court’s Public Information Office, state police Lt. Mike Shaw said some drivers don’t take the law seriously, claiming they are unaware it exists.
“I don’t think you need to be a police officer to know people are still out there with their phones in their hand. I see it every day when I’m not in my patrol car and I see it when I am in my patrol car.”
According to a story from MLive’s Gus Burns and Justin P. Hicks:
While there is no available statewide crash data, Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a Massachusetts-based tech company that tracks driver phone use in moving vehicles, claims it’s seen an estimated 12% reduction in distracted driving, which equates to the prevention of roughly 3,815 crashes, 2,137 injuries and 17 fatalities.
Cambridge uses a mobile app that drivers opt to allow, typically in agreement with their insurance provider to receive safe-driving discounts. The tech helps monitor risky behaviors like speeding, aggressive driving, emergency braking and distracted driving.
“If you get in your car today and you pick up your phone, you’re increasing your crash risk at that time by 300%,” said Ryan McMahon, senior vice president of corporate development for Cambridge.
Distracted driving declined 11% in the first month, according to Cambridge data.
Those gains, however, lost traction over the next six months. McMahon said that’s common in other states that adopted similar laws as media messaging campaigns decline and residents fall back into old habits.
Michigan’s data again improved this spring with double-digit declines in phone use while driving, capped by a 19% decline in May when compared to the month before the law was enacted.
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