In its first year, Michigan’s hands-free driving law prevented an estimated 5,500 accidents

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In Michigan, using a cell phone while driving is illegal.

Hands-free driving laws, like the one Michigan passed last year to reduce distracted driving, are working, a new analysis shows.

According to a study by Massachusetts-based Cambridge Mobile Telematics, the number of inattentive drivers has fallen by 12.8 percent in the 12 months since Michigan banned cell phone use while driving.

Cambridge Mobile Telematics estimates that this reduction prevented 5,500 crashes, 3,000 injuries, 25 deaths and $218 million in economic damage.

According to the analysis, drivers used their phones for 1 minute and 48 seconds per hour of driving in the month before the law came into force. Although mobile phone use increased in the following months after an initial decline, it has since fallen to its lowest levels, particularly in the last few months.

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Cambridge Mobile Telematics

Although mobile phone use while driving increased again after the ban, it has since fallen to its lowest level in recent months.

Cambridge Mobile Telematics has previously found that distracted driving laws wear off over time. The company praised the Ohio government for keeping the new distracted driving laws top of mind with a sustained public relations campaign, including a six-month grace period during which police officers let offenders get off with a warning.

When the grace period ended in October, the awareness-raising campaign received an additional boost.

“Hands-free laws have been proven to be the most effective tool available to states to reduce distracted driving,” said Ryan McMahon, SVP of Strategy at CMT. “When we measured the effectiveness of hands-free laws in Michigan, Ohio, Alabama and Missouri last year, we saw a decrease in distracted drivers in all states, resulting in fewer crashes, injuries and fatalities.”

Cambridge Mobile Telematics conducted its analysis using data from devices such as smartphones, tracking devices, dashboard cameras and other third-party devices.

For more information, see Cambridge Mobile Telematics’ 2024 Road Risk Report, “The State of US Road Risk in 2024.”

Signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in June 2023, Michigan’s Hands-Free Driving Law prohibits the manual use of cell phones while driving. Phones can only be used if they have hands-free technology such as voice commands or Bluetooth.

First-time offenders face a fine of $100 and/or 16 hours of community service, while repeat offenders face a fine of $250 and/or 24 hours of community service.

Repeat offenders could be required to take a driving improvement course and fines could be doubled if distracted driving results in a doubling of civil fines.