Police Cracking Down On Distracted Driving In Metro Detroit

METRO DETROIT — Michigan State Police launched on Monday a special initiative to crackdown on drivers using their cellphones while on the road throughout southeast Michigan, according to a news release from the Troy nonprofit Transportation Improvement Association.

Michigan State Police, county sheriff’s offices and multiple local police departments launched Operation Ghost Rider, which aims to reduce distracted driving deaths and injuries.

The operation is funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning in recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

"Operation Ghost Rider uses unmarked spotter vehicles, which contain a law enforcement passenger," the release said. "When the spotters observe a distracted driver, they radio a fully marked law enforcement unit to initiate a traffic stop."

Michigan's distracted driving law, which became law in 2010, fines first-time violators $100 and $200 for repeat offenders.

Officers will use unmarked spotter vehicles to find distracted drivers, and then reach out to a fully marked law enforcement unit to make a traffic stop, the release said.

Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said distracted driving crashes "are 100 percent preventable."

"As drivers, we must do better," Shaw said. "We will continue to educate motorists and hope that personal accountability will help decrease distracted driving. But we also know enforcement is key."

In addition to Michigan State Police, other police agencies participating in the crackdown include, Auburn Hills, Chesterfield Township, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, Taylor and Utica, along with sheriffs offices in Oakland and Macomb County.

"On average, a driver takes their eyes off the road for 5 seconds to send or read a text," Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. "At 55 miles per hour, that's equivalent to driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed."

The association said preliminary numbers for 2022 showed 57 people were killed and 5,905 were injured in 15,441 motor vehicle crashes that involved a distracted driver in Michigan.