Bipartisan bill package approved by House Transportation Committee

The Michigan House Transportation Committee today approved a plan introduced by state Rep. Triston Cole to reduce distracted driving by restricting the use of social media behind the wheel.

Cole’s plan adds reading an email or sending a message via cell phone social media apps to the list of banned activities for drivers. The legislation would expand a ban that already includes texting on a cellphone while driving.

“Texting while driving has already affected so many families who have had a loved one, friend, or neighbor pass away because of a car accident,” said Cole, of Mancelona. “This legislation will save Michigan lives by reducing distracted driving.”

The bill package also prohibits new drivers under the age of 18 or with a level 1 or level 2 graduated license from talking or listening to a cellphone call while driving except in the case of an emergency.

A study conducted in 2017 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that texting and visual-manual tasks while driving increase the odds of crash involvement by 83 percent.

House Bill 4198 now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.

###