Michigan's Texting Ban: One Step Forward, Too Many Steps Back

2011] MICHIGAN’S TEXTING BAN 159announcements, and ad campaigns that distracted driving, in whateverform, is not safe.2. Education, First and ForemostThe solution that Michigan needs cannot be limited to a legislative banand a few billboards. 217 Michigan already has a system in place to teachnew drivers about the dangers of distracted driving in its several forms, 218but a more comprehensive plan should be put in place to ensure that driversstay current on distracted-driving dangers, the traffic laws, and their drivingskills.To make the roads safer, Michigan drivers should be required to submitto regular driving tests, including behind-the-wheel exams. If the statewould like to educate drivers about the dangers of texting, then what betterway than to have drivers navigate a closed driving course while trying totext on their phones or perform other distracting tasks? If drivers are forcedto experience the difficulty of texting while driving in a controlledsituation, then they are more likely to avoid this dangerous behavior whenthey are on the open road. In addition, with more frequent testing, driverswill be held accountable for their driving habits and updated on the currentlaws and rules of the road. If drivers are unable to pass the regular drivingtests, then their licenses should be forfeited until they can pass. The successof a law is dependent upon not only its enforcement, but also upon citizensbeing aware of the law and its purpose.3. Legislative SolutionsThough there are no data on the effectiveness of Michigan’s textingban, there is evidence in other states with similar bans that shows that thereis a negative effect on highway safety following the implementation of suchbans. 219 Michigan has seen steady decreases across the board for trafficcrashes, injuries, and deaths 220 and only a marginal increase in the numberof accidents attributable to cellphone use, 221 despite explosive growth in217. Kristin Longley, Billboards Warn Michigan Drivers to ‘Txt Bck L8r’as NewTexting Ban Takes Effect, MLIVE.COM (June 22, 2010),http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/06/new_billboards_warn_michigan_d.html.218. See, e.g., MICH. DEP’T OF STATE, DRIVER EDUCATION CURRICULUM GUIDE(2010), available at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/DES_-_201_Driver_Education_Curriculum_Guide_215706_7.pdf.219. See supra Part III.A.220. See supra notes 19–23 and accompanying text.221. See supra Table 1.