dailyloe.com – Operation Ghost Rider is currently underway in Michigan, focusing on reducing distracted driving. Law enforcement agencies are utilizing unmarked vehicles to monitor drivers using cell phones while driving.
This initiative coincides with Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. The campaign began over the weekend and involves collaboration between various transportation organizations and police agencies statewide.
Unmarked police cruisers will identify distracted drivers, after which marked vehicles will conduct traffic stops. The National Transportation Safety Organization is leading this campaign with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and numerous local police groups.
The campaign specifically targets motorists who use mobile devices while driving. Data shows that between 2020 and 2024, nearly 300 fatalities were attributed to distracted driving, with mobile device usage slightly increasing from 5.2% to 5.7% in 2025.
While distracted driving crashes have decreased, the rate of fatal incidents has risen. Jim Santilli, CEO of NTSO, stated, “Safety on our roads depends on the choices each of us make every time we get behind the wheel. One moment of distraction can inflict lasting harm on families.”
He urged drivers to collaborate in enhancing community safety, aiming for zero violations. In 2023, Michigan enacted a law prohibiting the use of handheld mobile devices while driving.
This law prohibits holding any smartphone, even at red lights. Penalties include a $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service for the first offense, escalating to $250 and/or 24 hours for the second.
Three violations result in a mandatory driving course, and fines double if distracted driving leads to an accident. The law emphasizes that drivers cannot touch their phones at stop signs or lights, highlighting the serious nature of this enforcement.
