Welcome to handsfreemichigan.com, the official webpage of the Hands Free Michigan campaign. The purpose of handsfreemichigan.com, which was created by the Transportation Improvement Association (TIA) on September 24, 2016, is to provide information regarding the hands-free movement TIA and victims are leading in Michigan.
TIA and victims recognize that Michigan’s current texting law, MCL 257.602b, is too specific to texting and is extremely difficult to enforce. Since portable electronic devices now have numerous capabilities (i.e. social media, e-mail, video chat, a variety of apps, etc.) that drivers are engaging in, 26 states in the nation have a hands-free law. Those states clearly recognize a driver must keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel to safely operate a motor vehicle. MCL 257.602b also does not contain a penalty significant enough to deter distracted driving.
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.
Preliminary numbers for 2020 indicate 51 persons were killed and 5,559 were injured in 14,326 motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in the state of Michigan. During 2019, 70 persons were killed and 6,842 were injured in 18,096 crashes involving a distracted driver.
Please help us eliminate distracted driving in Michigan by contacting your State Senator and State Representative.
It is becoming far too common for people to be doing something other than driving. Distractions while driving may include: talking on a phone, texting, reading, eating, or watching a video. In 2019, Michigan recorded...