LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source)- Michigan’s Department of Highway Safety is expanding its plans to team up with local counties in the state ahead of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

This year’s campaign against distracted driving features the new slogan “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” as law enforcement tries to reduce crashes, particularly those involving texting and driving.

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Michigan adopted a law prohibiting texting while driving in 2010, the first offense includes a fine of $100 for motorists while subsequent offenses are increased to $200.

In 2021, there were 1,263 (45.7 percent) rear-end crashes where a driver was using a cell phone according to data provided by the Michigan Highway and Safety Planning. While only 6.7 percent of Michigan drivers are under the age of 21, 18.1 percent of the distracted driving crashes involved drivers under 21.

“Distracted driving is a major cause of vehicle crashes on our roads, and most of that distraction is attributed to texting while driving,” St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said.

In West Michigan, two out of the top five counties for the most distracted driving come from Kent County (1,572) and Kalamazoo County (625).

“The responsibility of reducing injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving falls on every driver, and we should all do our part to promote distracted driving awareness, participate in various statewide safe driving initiatives, and follow Michigan law, which prohibits texting while driving,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said last April.

On a national scale, officials claim that five distracted seconds at a speed of 55 mph is the same as driving an entire length of a football field with your eyes shut, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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Recently, Ohio adopted legislation that was also aimed at reducing distracted driving that included cell phone use, though the penalties were even more strict.

• A fine of up to $150 and two points on the driver’s license for the first offense. Fines and points can be avoided for a first offense by taking an approved distracted driving course.
• A fine of up to $250 and three points on the license for a second offense within two years.
• A fine of up to $500, four points on the license and a 90-day license suspension for a third offense within two years.

Some exceptions to the law include making an emergency call to police or medical services, using speakerphone, and using navigation services as long as the driver is not typing in a destination or holding the phone.