Focused on Safety: KCSO Distracted Driving Enforcement Underway
KENT COUNTY, Mich. –The Kent County Sheriff’s Office is working to reduce distracted driving crashes by participating in a statewide enforcement campaign led by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). Throughout the month of April, additional deputies will be assigned to patrols with a focus on distracted driving violations.
“We want people to make it home safely. We are going to be out proactively enforcing this law to help keep our roads safe, which includes writing citations to those driving distracted” said Sergeant Scott Dietrich of the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. “Our goal is to prevent crashes caused by distracted driving through education and enforcement.”
In 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a law making it illegal to manually use a cell phone or other electronic device while operating a vehicle in Michigan. Drivers may not hold or support a phone with any part of their hands, arms, or shoulders. Devices mounted to the dashboard or synced to the vehicle must be operated using only a single touch.
Under the law, drivers cannot manually:
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Make or answer phone or video calls
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Send or read texts or emails
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Watch, record, or send videos
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Use social media
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Browse the internet
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Enter GPS destinations
In 2023, Michigan had 15,136 crashes involving distracted drivers — 56 of those crashes were fatal, resulting in 59 lives lost.
Kent County ranked 4th highest in the state with 1,339 crashes caused by distracted driving.
- 1 in 5 of these crashes involved lane departures
- Over 1/3 happened at intersections
- 44 bicyclists and 112 pedestrians were hit — 12 died
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to promoting safe driving and preventing needless tragedies caused by distraction behind the wheel. Please drive responsibly.
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