Illustration by Tabitha Walters
“A vast majority of the offenses for the new hands-free law are drivers violating the law by using their devices at red lights and stop signs,” emails Chris Page, strategic communications manager for the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD). “The new law that went into effect last summer strictly prohibits using a [hand-held] cell phone while driving, including at red lights or stop signs.” The only exception is to alert the authorities to an emergency.
June 30 marks one year since the law banning “manual use” of cell phones in cars took effect. At their discretion, officers can give warnings or issue citations; the consequences can range from fines to community service to mandatory driving-improvement courses. Prohibited uses include dialing and texting, punching in GPS information, using social media, and even just holding the phone. Hands-free calling is fine.
Although the AAPD doesn’t track how many citations are issued at stop signs, Page writes that overall, “citations for hands-free violations are up this year compared to last year.” During Distracted Driving Month in April, the AAPD issued 405 citations for violations of the hands-free law, and 420 warnings.
Related: Stop Light Texts?
Crashes linked to the use of handheld electronic devices were already trending down by the time the law was passed. According to preliminary data from the Michigan State Police, they peaked at 5,203 in 2017. Last year there were 3,770, and as of May 14, 1,002 so far this year.
Is the law making a difference? “Maybe?” emails Carol Flannagan, a research professor with the U-M Transportation Research Institute. “I do like that the law is not trying to get people to stop using their phones altogether. That’s not realistic.”
Drinking alcohol is still the most dangerous thing drivers do. According to a 2016 paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, driving drunk is associated with a thirty-six-fold increase in crash risk as compared to a hypothetical model driver.
Dialing a cell phone is around twelve times more dangerous than model driving—comparable to speeding. Texting clocks in at about six times more dangerous, and holding a phone to your ear roughly doubles the risk of a crash. Hands-free talking and texting, according to Flannagan, are about as dangerous as chatting with a passenger—all increase the risk of an accident by about 40 percent.
As for people getting citations at stoplights, Flannagan isn’t surprised.
“When the situation is less complex, a little bit safer, [people] will often then pick up the phone,” she says. “It’s actually technically fine from a safety perspective, right? But it is illegal and the law is very clear.”
