NHTSA targets impairment, speed, distraction

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration used April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month to push a national enforcement campaign aimed at drivers using phones behind the wheel. (nhtsa.gov) NHTSA’s campaign, “Put the Phone Away or Pay,” ran with increased law enforcement from April 9 through April 13. The agency said the effort focused on texting and other messaging while driving. (nhtsa.gov 1) (nhtsa.gov 2) At an April kickoff event, NHTSA said it was partnering with law enforcement agencies across the country from April 6 to April 13 to identify and stop distracted drivers. The agency said the campaign especially targets drivers ages 18 to 34. (nhtsa.gov) NHTSA said 3,208 people were killed and more than 315,000 were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers in 2024. The agency also said distracted-driving crashes accounted for 8% of fatal crashes that year. (nhtsa.gov 1) (nhtsa.gov 2) The federal push sits inside a broader road-safety strategy that also targets other risky behavior, including impaired driving and speeding, through separate campaigns during the year. NHTSA describes distracted driving as one part of its larger effort against “risky driving.” (nhtsa.gov 1) (nhtsa.gov 2) Michigan tied its own April effort to the federal month, saying police agencies statewide would enforce the state’s hands-free law during April 2026. The Michigan State Police said distraction-involved crashes in the state fell 4.6% to 14,439 in 2024, but fatalities rose 10% to 65. (michigan.gov) Michigan’s hands-free law makes holding or manually using a phone while driving a primary offense, meaning an officer can stop a driver for that violation alone. A first violation carries a $100 fine or 16 hours of community service, according to the state. (michigan.gov) The state has also used unmarked-vehicle enforcement under “Operation Ghost Rider.” Michigan State Police said one 2024 work-zone enforcement effort produced 195 hazardous citations through November, including 172 for distracted driving and 12 for speeding. (michigan.gov) For drivers, the April message was narrower than a general safety slogan: put the phone away before the car moves, or expect a ticket if police see you texting. The enforcement window has ended, but the federal and state data behind it have not. (nhtsa.gov) (nhtsa.gov)