National Transportation Safety Organization

PUTTING SAFETY FIRST: OPERATION GHOST RIDER TARGETS DISTRACTED DRIVING ACROSS MICHIGAN TROY, Michigan, April 24, 2026 - With an increase in handheld device use among drivers on Michigan roadways, law enforcement agencies across the state are partnering with the National Transportation Safety Organization (NTSO) to strengthen enforcement efforts throughout April and May. Beginning tomorrow, law enforcement agencies will take part in Operation Ghost Rider, a safety-driven initiative aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving. Operation Ghost Rider is led by NTSO, and funded by NTSO and the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). "Safety on our roads depends on the choices each of us make every time we get behind the wheel," said Jim Santilli, CEO of NTSO. "One moment of distraction can inflict lasting harm on families. We are asking drivers to partner with us to protect our communities, with a goal of zero violations because that means everyone is working together to keep people safe.” Launched in 2017, Operation Ghost Rider uses unmarked vehicles staffed with law enforcement officers who spot distracted drivers and alert nearby marked units to make traffic stops. Participating agencies include the Michigan State Police, Macomb County Sheriff's Office, Oakland County Sheriff's Office, Auburn Hills Police Department, Chesterfield Township Police Department, Clinton Township Police Department, Dundee Police Department, Shelby Township Police Department, South Rockwood Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, Troy Police Department, Utica Police Department, along with additional agencies supporting the effort. “Distracted driving continues to pose a serious threat to everyone on the road,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police. “Each of us can take responsibility and do our part by putting our phones down while driving.” A recent observational study from Michigan State University (MSU) found that mobile device use by drivers increased from 5.2 percent in 2024 to 5.7 percent in 2025. According to the Michigan State Police, motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver decreased by 4.6 percent from 15,136 in 2023 to 14,439 in 2024. However, the number of fatalities in distraction-involved crashes increased 10 percent from 59 fatalities in 2023 to 65 in 2024. “While fewer distracted-driving crashes is encouraging news, the increase in mobile device use and distracted-driving-related fatalities is alarming,” said Alicia Sledge, OHSP director. “Nearly 300 people have died in distraction-involved crashes in Michigan from 2020 to 2024. That should concern every roadway user and underscores the need for people to embrace safer-driving habits.” Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation highlights the risk: drivers using a handheld device are four times more likely to be involved in an injury-causing crash, and texting increases crash risk by 23 times. In 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a bill making it illegal to hold or manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads. This includes situations where a vehicle is stopped at a light or in traffic but does not apply when the vehicle is legally parked. Under the law, drivers cannot hold or support a device with any part of their hands, arms, or shoulders. Even if a device is mounted on the dashboard or connected to the vehicle’s built-in system, drivers are prohibited from using their hands to operate it beyond a single touch. Penalties for violations include: a $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service for a first offense; a $250 fine and/or 24 hours of community service for second or subsequent violations; and a mandatory driving improvement course for three violations within a three-year period. Additionally, fines are doubled if a traffic crash occurs and the at-fault driver was found to be holding or manually using a mobile device while operating the vehicle. Multiple distracted driving education efforts took place across Michigan during April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Through a grant from State Farm, NTSO challenged Michigan high school students to design a distracted driving awareness billboard. The winning design was created by Johnathon Putrus Jr., a student at Dakota High School. His message will be displayed on billboards statewide throughout April and May, generating more than 10 million impressions.

On April 1st, I enjoyed joining @NHTSAgov Administrator Jonathan Morrison, @FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs, Fairfield Police Chief Michael Paris, Patty Kruszewski, a mother who lost her daughter in a distracted driving crash, Jennifer Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Stopdistractions.org, and others to kickoff National Distracted Driving Awareness Month at the @USDOT Headquarters in Washington, DC. From April 6 - 13, @NHTSAgov Put the Phone Away or Pay campaign will remind the public of the financial, legal, and even deadly consequences of driving distracted. Eighteen people are injured every half hour in distracted driving crashes, and one person is killed about every 2.5 hours.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month will focus on enforcing Hands-Free Law April 01, 2026 Distracted-driving crashes decreased in 2025, but the number of fatalities increased With a rise in the use of handheld devices by drivers on Michigan roadways and in support of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, police agencies throughout the state are teaming up with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) for a high-visibility enforcement effort during the month of April. A recent observational study from Michigan State University (MSU) found that mobile device use by drivers increased from 5.2 percent in 2024 to 5.7 percent in 2025. The OHSP works with MSU each year to collect data to determine annual handheld device use rates on Michigan roads. Throughout the month, police officers will be enforcing Michigan’s Hands-Free Law, which took effect on June 30, 2023. The goal of this initiative is to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and deaths caused by distracted driving, especially those involving the use of a mobile device. According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver decreased by 4.6 percent from 15,136 in 2023 to 14,439 in 2024. However, the number of fatalities in distraction-involved crashes increased 10 percent from 59 fatalities in 2023 to 65 in 2024. “While fewer distracted-driving crashes is encouraging news, the increase in mobile device use and distracted-driving-related fatalities is alarming,” said Alicia Sledge, OHSP director. “Nearly 300 people have died in distraction-involved crashes in Michigan from 2020 to 2024. That should concern every roadway user and underscores the need for people to embrace safer-driving habits.” Jim Santilli, CEO of the National Transportation Safety Organization, said stopping the use of handheld devices while driving must be a priority to keep all roadways users safe. “Distracted driving is not an accident—it is a deliberate choice that can inflict lasting harm on families,” Santilli said. “Safer roads rely on all of us committing to drive without distractions.” Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads, with cell phone use the most common distraction. Other risky actions include adjusting the radio or GPS, applying makeup, eating and drinking. “Any activity that takes your eyes off the road and your hands off the wheel is extremely reckless and can have devastating consequences,” Santilli said. Violating Michigan’s Hands-Free Law can be costly: For the first offense, a $100 ticket and/or 16 hours of community service; for the second offense, a $250 ticket and/or 24 hours of community service; and for a third offense within a three-year-period, the driver must complete a driving-improvement course. This enforcement is a part of the SAFER by 2030 initiative. SAFER (Statewide Action to Reduce Fatalities Encountered on our Roadways) by 2030 is a collaborative effort by state agencies and traffic safety partners to reduce traffic fatalities on Michigan roadways by 30 percent by the year 2030. Educational efforts by SAFER by 2030 partner agencies include the posting of Hands-Free Law signs at rest stops and Welcome Centers by the Michigan Department of Transportation, the OHSP’s distracted-driving paid media campaign, and the Kiefer Foundation’s “Just Drive Simulator” for high schools. For more information about distracted driving and Michigan’s Hands-Free Law, visit michigan.gov/DistractedDriv…. To learn more about SAFER by 2030, visit michigan.gov/SAFERby2030. michigan.gov/mspnewsroom/ne…

You know what’s vintage? Paper strips! USDOT is making this 1970s tech in air traffic control towers a thing of the past by going DIGITAL. That means more SAFETY and EFFICIENCY in our skies ✈️ And it’s all thanks to @POTUS and Republicans in Congress for the $12.5 BILLION in the One Big Beautiful Bill 🇺🇸 DCA is now UPGRADED… and more airports are on the way

"SB 409 is the only distracted driving bill in the Michigan Legislature that will improve safety, as well as be enforceable if it becomes a law," said Jim Santilli, CEO of @tiasafety #handsfreemichigan

@tiasafety is proud to be partnered with @SenRuthJohnson on SB 409, which would make Michigan join 26 other hands-free states in the nation. #handsfreemichigan

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson honored by @tiasafety for #trafficsafety efforts at MDOS content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MISOS…

@tiasafety @MichStatePolice @MacombSheriff @AHPOLICE @ShelbyTwp911 @oaklandsheriff @UticaPD Great group of people made up the Operation GhostRiders

Statistic used in @projectmitchel’s keynote, “10 people die every day in the U.S. from distracted driving.” #TIA2018AnnualMeeting

Winding down with our final speaker, Steve Kiefer from @projectmitchel, discussing #DistractedDriving. #TIA2018AnnualMeeting

Also awarding some of the departments who participated in Operation Ghost Rider @MichStatePolice @MacombSheriff @AHPOLICE @ShelbyTwp911 @oaklandsheriff @UticaPD Clinton Twp. Police Dept., and Sterling Heights Police Dept. #TIA2018AnnualMeeting

Other awardees include @FordDSFL @GM @projectmitchel @cityofnovi @oaklandsheriff @oaklandroads @ford #TIA2018AnnualMeeting

Our first awardee, Ruth Johnson, @MichSoS. #TIA2018AnnualMeeting

Almost time for the transportation safety awards presentation. #TIA2018AnnualMeeting

Our first keynote speaker, Joshua Holtzman, from @FAANews, discussing Drone Safety. #TIA2018AnnualMeeting @SuburbnShowplce