Research shows that Michigan drivers are using cellphones less since a hands-free law went into effect, but they’re also using seatbelts less.
The grant-funded study was conducted by Michigan State University and completed in May and June of 2024. The research found that the hands-free law helped reduce the rate of handheld device usage by 1.2%.
Researchers also found a seat belt use rate of 92% for Michigan, which is a 0.4% decrease from the rate of 92.4% in 2023. This is the lowest seat belt use rate since 2004, when it was 90.5%.
“Every unbuckled seat belt represents a life at risk,” said Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). “It’s disheartening to see the seat belt use rate in Michigan continue to decline. We must remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility. Every time we buckle up, we protect not just ourselves but everyone on the road.”
Seat belt use observation studies over the last 10 years indicate that the overall annual use rate among people in the front seat of the vehicle range from 92.4% to 94.5%. Michigan’s highest seat belt use rate was 97.9% in 2009.
Researchers estimate that every percentage point increase in seat belt use means 10 fewer traffic deaths and 100 fewer serious injuries.
Bower said Michigan’s hands-free law, which took effect on June 30, 2023, had a clear impact on the survey’s results. The rate of handheld device use by drivers fell from 6.7% in 2023 to 5.5% in 2024.
“A rate decrease of 1.2 percentage points translates to many lives being saved as drivers and passengers understand the importance of keeping their hands on the wheel at all times,” Bower said. “While there is still much work to do to decrease distracted-driving crashes, we are thrilled the hands-free Law has positively influenced driver behavior and has helped save lives on our roads.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that the nationwide seat belt use rate was 91.9 percent in 2023, up from 91.6 in 2022. The NHTSA requires states to conduct annual seat belt observation studies.