Starting today and running through October 19, researchers from Michigan State University will be working with police agencies in Kent and Wayne counties to evaluate methods of enforcing distracted driving laws. Jon Ross, spokesperson for the Office of Highway Safety Planning, says dynamic message signs along roadways will be used in the study.
“So at times it’ll say ‘Arrive Alive Don’t Text and Drive’ or other anti-distracted driving messaging on it and sometimes it won’t have that message on it,” says Ross. “They want to see if that message is having an impact on people using their phones or not while they’re driving. Do they put them away if they see the sign? Do they continue to use them if they don’t see the sign and things like that.”
In Michigan during 2019, 70 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.
