Three years after Michigan’s hands-free driving law kicked in on June 30, 2023, a new look at drivers on the road suggests many really are putting the phone down. A Michigan State University survey found a measurable drop in handheld phone use that researchers say translates to roughly 96,000 fewer drivers statewide using their devices behind the wheel.
According to MSU Today, researchers recorded a 1.2 percentage-point dip in the share of drivers using handheld devices. "We saw a 1.2 percentage point decrease in the number of drivers using handheld devices compared to the same time period a year ago," said Tim Gates, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan State University. The team’s seasonal observational survey ran for 21 days at 200 sites, beginning the day after Memorial Day, and was designed to reflect counties where most of the state’s fatal crashes occur.
What the law actually bans
The hands-free statute, amended in 2023, makes it a civil infraction to hold or manually use a mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle, including when a vehicle is stopped at a traffic signal. As outlined by the Michigan Legislature, the law allows voice-operated systems and devices placed in a mount but generally prohibits manual use beyond a single tap. Fines start at $100 for a first offense and $250 for later violations, a third citation within three years triggers a required driving-improvement course, and any civil fine is doubled if an at-fault driver was holding a phone when a crash occurred.
Enforcement, education and who’s pushing for change
As reported by ClickOnDetroit, Steve Kiefer of the Kiefer Foundation joined Local 4 Live to talk about how advocacy groups and families of crash victims pushed for the hands-free law and continue to back it. State police and the Office of Highway Safety Planning have paired high-visibility patrols with public outreach during Distracted Driving Awareness campaigns, the MSP noted in an April news release that laid out statewide enforcement and education efforts. The MSP also highlighted school-level simulators and rest-stop signage as part of a broader SAFER by 2030 effort to cut crash numbers and fatalities.
Gains, but younger drivers lag
MSU’s survey data shows drivers under 30 are still about twice as likely to be observed using handheld devices compared with drivers aged 30–59, a gap that safety officials say calls for more targeted messaging. On the national level, distracted driving remains deadly: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than 3,000 distraction-affected fatalities in recent years. Researchers and advocates say the hands-free law is a useful tool, but enforcement, technology and education all need to keep pace, especially for younger drivers and in high-risk situations.
What drivers should do
The basic advice is not complicated: mount your device, turn on voice commands, and pull over safely if you need more than a quick tap to handle a call or text. State resources and guidance from law enforcement reiterate that a phone in your hand is a violation even at a red light, so relying on hands-free setups and a single tap when necessary lowers both legal and safety risks. For more on the law and on local enforcement efforts, drivers can look to materials from the Michigan State Police and MSU research teams.
