Roadwise States Michigan Driving lessons Distracted driving and phone fines Michigan driving lesson · Traffic Laws: Staying Safe
Distracted driving and phone fines A 3-minute lesson from the Michigan course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Traffic Laws: Staying Safe
Checkpoint questions 4
Source pages 37, 38 Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off driving is a distraction. Your brain can't give full attention to two things at once, and at highway speed even a split second matters.
Know the rule
Drivers who drive "in a careless or negligent manner likely to endanger any person or property" or "in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property" can be prosecuted.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ 3,400+ Estimated U.S. deaths each year from distracted-driving crashes (NHTSA)
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Distraction Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off driving — a manual, visual or cognitive distraction.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Know the rule
Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal in Michigan, including reading, texting, and making or answering a call. Exceptions exist for reporting crashes, crimes or other emergencies.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ 24 feet Distance a car at 65 mph covers in the quarter second your brain needs to switch tasks
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Before driving: Have a front-seat passenger navigate, or plot your route in advance if alone Learn your vehicle's controls so you can use them without looking Pre-program radio stations and pick a playlist Make sure children are comfortable and buckled up Finish grooming before you leave or after you arrive Handbook p. 38 ↗ While driving: Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road Avoid phones, texting devices, and navigation and other electronic systems If you must call, park safely first; avoid calling people who are driving Don't take notes, read or look up phone numbers Avoid involved, stressful or confrontational conversations Eat only easy-to-handle food; secure drinks in cup holders Take a break if you're "lost in thought" or tired Handbook p. 38 ↗ Put it into practice
You're caught holding your phone to read a text while driving — a first offense costs $100. If it happens again, the fine is $250.
A useful reminder At 65 mph, the quarter second your brain needs to switch tasks covers 24 feet.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
About how many deaths per year does NHTSA estimate result from distracted-driving crashes? 340 1,200 3,400 10,000 Answer: 3,400
NHTSA estimates at least 3,400 deaths annually from distracted-driving crashes.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ A driver is caught reading a text message on a hand-held phone while driving, their first offense. How much is the fine? $50 $250 $150 $100 Answer: $100
Drivers face a fine of $100 for a first hand-held phone offense.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ What is the fine for a second (subsequent) hand-held phone violation? $100 $150 $250 $500 Answer: $250
Subsequent hand-held phone violations carry a $250 fine.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ At 65 mph, about how far does a car travel during the quarter-second it takes the brain to shift attention? 24 feet 16 feet 8 feet 40 feet Answer: 24 feet
In the quarter-second it takes the brain to shift attention, a car at 65 mph covers about 24 feet.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Previous lesson Driver reexaminations Next lesson Michigan's cell phone law and Kelsey's Law More in Traffic Laws: Staying Safe About the source Roadwise’s Michigan course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 37, 38. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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