With distracted driving claiming over 3,000 lives in 2022 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, states are enacting laws to make drivers think twice about using their phones while driving. A recent survey of Michigan drivers performed by Michigan State University researchers found a decrease in the handheld use of cell phones or other electronic devices while driving.

The researchers credit Michigan’s “hands-free” law that went into effect June 30, 2023, and prohibits drivers from using a phone or electronic device while driving with having a positive impact.

“We saw a 1.2 percentage point decrease in the number of drivers using handheld devices compared to the same time period a year ago,” said Tim Gates, a professor of civil and environmental engineering in the MSU College of Engineering. “When you consider that Michigan has approximately 8 million licensed drivers, this translates to approximately 96,000 fewer drivers using handheld devices.”  

Gates and his team found that handheld device use varied significantly by driver age. Drivers under the age of 30 were approximately twice as likely to use a handheld mobile device compared to drivers aged 30 to 59 years and were more than six times as likely to use a handheld device compared to drivers aged 60 and above.  

The survey, which has been taking place annually for over a decade, also monitors seat belt use by front-seat drivers and passengers.

The surveys occur during daylight hours over a 21-day period beginning the day after Memorial Day, which coincides with the end of the annual Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign. The surveys are performed at 200 sites selected from 35 counties that represent at least 85% of the fatal crashes statewide.

Gates has also seen changes in seat belt trends when comparing data from before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, including changes in traffic volume, speeds and the types of drivers on the road. For example, while many office workers have permanently shifted to remote work, workers in manufacturing, construction, education, hospitality, retail and several other sectors must continue to commute to their place of work.  

“We were seeing 94% seat belt use pre-COVID, which has steadily declined to 92%,” said Gates. “The study revealed that young males in pickup trucks tend to exhibit the lowest rates of safety belt use.”

The researchers hope the data from their survey can be used to develop targeted safety messaging campaigns to keep drivers safe in Michigan.