April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and law enforcement agencies across Michigan, including here in Huron County, are increasing enforcement efforts to address a growing and preventable danger on our roadways.
According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), distracted-driving crashes decreased slightly in 2024. However, that progress is overshadowed by a troubling reality: fatalities in those crashes increased by 10 percent. At the same time, mobile device use by drivers continues to rise, with a recent Michigan State University study showing an increase from 5.2 percent in 2024 to 5.7 percent in 2025.
A Preventable Risk with Serious Consequences
Distracted driving is not limited to texting. It includes any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from the road, adjusting a GPS, eating, or even briefly looking at a phone. These seemingly small distractions can have life-altering consequences.
From 2020 to 2024, nearly 300 people in Michigan lost their lives in crashes involving distracted driving. These are not just statistics, they represent families, friends, and members of our communities.
Huron County Prosecutor Timothy Rutkowski emphasized the importance of personal responsibility behind the wheel:
“Distracted driving is entirely preventable. Every time someone chooses to look at their phone instead of the road, they are putting lives at risk, including their own. We urge all drivers in Huron County to stay focused, keep their eyes on the road, and make safety their priority.”
Michigan’s Hands-Free Law
Michigan’s Hands-Free Law, which took effect June 30, 2023, prohibits the use of handheld devices while driving. Throughout April, law enforcement agencies are participating in a high-visibility enforcement campaign to ensure compliance.
Violations can result in:
- First offense: $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service
- Second offense: $250 fine and/or 24 hours of community service
- Third offense (within three years): Mandatory driving improvement course
These penalties reflect the seriousness of distracted driving and the state’s commitment to reducing preventable crashes.
Working Toward Safer Roads
This enforcement effort is part of Michigan’s broader SAFER by 2030 initiative, which aims to reduce traffic fatalities by 30 percent by the year 2030 through education, enforcement, and community partnerships.
Keep Your Eyes on the Road
The message this month, and every month, is straightforward:
Stay focused. Keep your hands on the wheel. Keep your eyes on the road.
A moment of distraction can have permanent consequences. Choosing not to engage in distracted driving is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself and others in our community.
