The Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would ban drivers under the age of 18 from using cell phones while driving. Michigan law currently only prohibits those with a learner’s permit or restricted licenses from using cell phones while behind the wheel.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-40-Birmingham). Another bill introduced earlier this year aimed to prohibit all drivers from using cellphones in any social way while behind the wheel.
“This is a matter of life and death,” Manoogian said in a statement. “Every year, distracted driving causes thousands of crashes in our state, resulting in preventable injuries and loss of life.”
This newest bill would define cell phone use as initiating or answering a call or talking on a phone. It would not apply to those reporting accidents or other emergencies.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressed her support for the bill and urged the Michigan Senate to pass it.
“As a mom, there’s nothing more important to me than the safety of my kids, and I know every parent in Michigan feels the same way,” Whitmer said in a statement. “That’s why Rep. Manoogian’s legislation is so important. We don’t just need better roads, we need safer roads. This bill will help us put an end to distracted driving, protect our kids, and ensure the safety of Michigan drivers.
Cell phones were involved in nearly 2,000 crashes in Michigan in 2016, according to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. In 99 percent of these crashes, it was the motor vehicle driver using a cellphone.
The CJIC also said that drivers who were 20 years old or younger made up 347, or 18.3 percent, of motor vehicle crashes in 2016.
“As lawmakers, it is up to us to enact laws that keep Michiganders safe and this bill does just that,” Manoogian said. “Our young drivers are the most vulnerable to accidents and we need to do everything we can to protect them.”
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with Battleground State News and The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
