According to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center, distracted driving in Michigan accounted for over 12,000 crashes in 2016 with 43 fatalities and 5,103 injuries.
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Acting Road Safety Commissioner Iain Cameron said analysis showed 17 per cent of last year’s deaths were linked to inattention, many in crashes in the metropolitan area.
Distracted driving legislation was at the center of a public hearing at the Capitol. More than a third, 35 percent, say they’ve sent a text message from behind the wheel.
Fifty percent of parents have knowingly texted their teen while they are driving, and 29% of parents expect a response before their teen reaches their destination.
That’s why he and his department are doing something about it.
The AAA data found that, while motorists engage in distracted driving, they also are well aware of the risks.
“People seem to want to think that it’s trip, slips and falls and it’s not”, she said. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, will strengthen the state’s highway safety laws by making distracted driving a moving violation and adding a point to the driver’s record.
“There are after-the-fact tests to determine whether a driver is intoxicated on drugs or alcohol, but there’s no consistent method for tracking how distraction plays a role in crashes”, said Blasky.
Eighty-eight percent of drivers believe distracted driving is on the rise, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s latest Traffic Safety Culture Index survey.
Put aside electronic distractions and never use text messaging, email, video games or internet functions, including those built into the vehicle, while driving.
It’s more about safety and education rather than giving tickets, he said.
The simulator consists of a large touchscreen computer and steering wheel, which allows people to experience firsthand the dangers of distracted and impaired driving.
Mr. Hayes added that this could include using the phone for texting or navigation, or “you could be having a conversation that makes you cognitively disengaged from the roadway”.
As you prepare to travel this weekend, know you’ll be joined by many others on the road.
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“Our goal is to educate (drivers) and increase awareness in a stop”, Cruz said.
