Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) announced the one-year results from Michigan’s hands-free law, enacted June 30, 2023. In the year since the law took effect, Michigan has reduced distracted driving by 12.8%. CMT estimates this reduction in phone use while driving has prevented 5,500 crashes, 3,000 injuries, 25 fatalities and $218 million in economic damages.
Hands-free laws have proven to be effective at reducing distracted driving. In addition to Michigan, the states of Ohio, Alabama and Missouri implemented new hands-free laws in 2023, all seeing improvements.
In the month before the law took effect in Michigan, drivers used their phones for 1 minute and 48 seconds per hour of driving. The month after, distraction fell to 1 minute and 36 seconds, a 12-second drop. The average distraction time per hour since then has been 1 minute and 35 seconds, with even lower rates in the last three months. For every 10% drop in distracted driving, CMT estimates the driving fatality rate falls by 1.5%.
“We worked tirelessly for years to pass the hands-free bill in Michigan,” said Steve Kiefer, founder and chairman of The Kiefer Foundation. “CMT’s data shows that these laws work. They’re reducing distracted driving and saving lives. We hope other states look at Michigan's success and enact their own hands-free laws to save even more lives on the road.”
In Michigan, efforts to pass such a law began after Bonnie Raffaele lost her daughter, Kelsey, in a crash caused by a distracted driver in January 2010. Raffaele wanted to pass a hands-free law then but was only successful in passing a no texting law, which took effect in 2010, and a hand-held ban for novice drivers, enacted in 2013.
In 2016, Mitchel Kiefer, a freshman at Michigan State University, was killed in a crash caused by a distracted driver. The Kiefer family formed the Kiefer Foundation to work towards passing a hands-free law in his memory. When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took office, she said in her first State of the State address in 2019 she wanted to see a hands-free law pass.
"You can’t navigate any road if you’re looking at your phone. So in addition to better roads, we need safer roads, too," Whitmer said at the time. "I believe it’s time for Michigan to join the 16 states that have passed hands-free laws to keep our roads and our kids safe. So let’s make it happen."
Jennifer Smith, CEO of Stop Distractions and a member of CMT's Road Safety Advisory Board, said she did not think similar laws will extend to any other technology in vehicles.
"The cell phone is the most prevalent distraction on the roads and it is what the data shows is causing the crashes regarding distraction," Smith said. "The hands-free law is what is effective at reducing crashes and fatalities due to distraction."
Smith said since Michigan passed its law last year, Colorado and Pennsylvania have also passed hands-free laws. She added there are still 29 states that need to pass similar laws, almost all of which have bills proposed in each legislative session.
