Michigan law enforcement agencies and the National Transportation Safety Organization have launched a program called Operation Ghost Rider to patrol roads for distracted drivers. The initiative, which uses unmarked police vehicles to identify offenders, started last weekend across the state. Jim Santilli, CEO of the National Transportation Safety Organizatio, said, "Every time a driver chooses to look at their phone or engage in any distraction, they’re putting lives at risk," according to FOX 2 Detroit.
Michigan's traffic safety plan, introduced in 2017, aims to reduce distracted driving. In 2023, Michigan recorded 15,136 distracted driving crashes, resulting in 59 deaths and 5,889 injuries. Many of these incidents occurred at intersections or during lane mergers. The campaign is funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and involves local agencies like the Michigan State Police, Oakland County Sheriff, and Macomb County Sheriff. It is being held during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month to raise awareness about the risks of distracted driving. "Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near crashes," said Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw, as reported by ABC12.
Michigan residents have shown support for a new initiative aimed at improving road safety. Sherold Hinton of Detroit said, "I don’t want to lose my life, however, I don’t want to take anyone else," and Manuel Meillon of Sterling Heights shared, "Normally, I don’t take my phone. Whenever I receive any calls, I have hands free." The initiative focuses on enforcing traffic laws and educating drivers to change unsafe behaviors. Santilli stated, "The goal with enforcement is trying to change driver behavior… sometimes it’s a part of the education process," as mentioned by WXYZ.
