<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This fall, WOAS-FM will be applying for another $1000 grant co-sponsored by the State of Michigan and the Ford Motor Company.\u00a0 Perhaps you have saw the gold and red \u2018Strive for a Safer Drive – Don\u2019t be Distracted\u2019 banners adorning the \u2018Welcome to Ontonagon\u2019 signs at the village entry points on US 45 and M 38 before the Labor Day Festival banners went up.\u00a0 These banners were from years 7 and 8 of this locally produced safe driving campaign.\u00a0 This fall will mark the ninth consecutive year WOAS DJs and other volunteers will have applied to be part of this state-wide project.\u00a0 Each year, the station DJs are informed they will be running this important Public Service Campaign through the station.\u00a0 I ask them, \u201cWhy do you think we are still doing this every year?\u201d and they always come up with the correct answer:\u00a0 \u201cBecause people are still using their phones while driving.\u201d\u00a0 On June 3, 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation into law making it illegal to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads.\u00a0 This will no doubt stir some rumblings about the government interfering with our rights to live dangerously, but if I have learned anything from the previous eight locally run S4SD – DbD campaigns, I can only say, \u201cIt is about time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The new law took effect on June 30, 2023 and states, \u201cA driver cannot hold or support a phone or other device with any part of their hands, arms, or shoulders.\u201d\u00a0 According to a press release from the Michigan State Police (MSP), even if a cell phone or other device is mounted on your dashboard or connected to your vehicle\u2019s built-in system, you cannot use your hands to operate it beyond a single touch.\u00a0 The MSP website points out a driver cannot manually do any of the following on a cell phone or other electronic device while driving:\u00a0 – Make or answer a telephone or video call, – Send or read a text or email message, – Watch, record, or send a video, – Access, read, or post to social media, \u2018 Browse or use the Internet, – or enter information into GPS or a navigation system.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In an interview with the <\/span>Houghton Daily Mining Gazette,\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>MSP Trooper Alan Narhi from the Calumet Post said the new law updates the previous distracted driving law that was first enacted in 2010.\u00a0 According to Trooper Narhi, \u201cThe previous distracted driving statute limited actions law enforcement agents could take regarding drivers distracted by cell phone use.\u00a0 The previous law relied a lot on cooperation from the public.\u00a0 This law is essentially Michigan becoming a hands-free state.\u00a0 In other words, you can\u2019t have an electronic device in your possession, at all, while you\u2019re driving.\u201d\u00a0 Until we began taking part in the S4SD campaign, I never really paid much attention to what other people were doing while driving.\u00a0 Once I began advising the DJs and volunteers who run the DbD program, phone use by drivers became a problem I couldn\u2019t UN-see.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When I was learning to drive, both before and after I took the formal driver\u2019s training course at school, my dad repeated the same ideas whenever I was behind the wheel:\u00a0 \u201cMake sure the only thing you have on your mind when operating a car is driving.\u00a0 Driving is a full time occupation and your life depends on you paying attention.\u00a0 Other people\u2019s lives are also in your hands.\u00a0 If you kill someone while driving, it will be with you forever.\u201d\u00a0 Once in a while, I would get to ride with dad with his radio-equipt unmarked police car (he was a detective in the 1960s).\u00a0 I was always fascinated how he could pick up and key his mic and adjust the channel without ever taking his eyes off the road.\u00a0 When asked about this, he simply said, \u201cYou get used to where everything is when you aren\u2019t driving.\u00a0 Once you are on the road, you can\u2019t afford to look down at the radio.\u201d\u00a0 When he saw me installing a tape deck in my pickup truck when I was in college, he reminded me of the same thing:\u00a0 you can\u2019t take your eyes off the road while fiddling with your radio or tape player.\u00a0 Remembering how he handled his police radio, I learned how to operate not only my tape deck, but all of my dash panel controls without having to look at them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trooper Narhi told the Gazette\u2019s Graham Jaehnig the new law gives officers a broader range of discretion, and therefore broader authority, in determining distracted driving:\u00a0 \u201cUnder the previous law, distracted driving involving a cell phone was limited to sending, reading, or receiving a text message only.\u00a0 You could be doing anything you wanted on your phone, and we would have no idea until we talk to you.\u201d\u00a0 The new law also makes cell phone use a primary violation which means it is based solely on an officer\u2019s observations.\u00a0 Narhi pointed out there are exceptions to the rule, for example, if a driver needs to call 911 to report an emergency, a crash, a traffic hazard, or a reckless driver, use of a cell phone is permitted.\u00a0 \u201cYou can communicate on your phone if you can do it hands-free.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Narhi also noted the updated law stipulates drivers can not operate a cell phone or other device beyond a single touch:\u00a0 \u201cMost phones today have voice-command capacity.\u00a0 If you\u2019re using voice commands to your phone, that\u2019s okay.\u201d\u00a0 It is also permissible to use a GPS unit while driving as long as one is not typing in destinations or coordinates while operating their vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n The new law is also not limited to using a cell phone.\u00a0 The Michigan.gov site also lists eating, drinking, smoking, looking after pets or children, searching or reaching for items while driving (which includes adjusting climate or music controls), and listening to loud music as distracted driving activities.\u00a0 \u201cWhat we are getting at,\u201d Narhi said, \u201cis that those are distractions that can occur inside a vehicle.\u00a0 Those are hazards that can cause distractions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trooper Narhi cited an example he had observed while working on a vehicle crash in the Copper Country in early July 2023.\u00a0 While he was directing traffic at the scene, he witnessed more than one motorist aiming their phones out the window, snapping photos as they drove by the crash.\u00a0 \u201cIt is this kind of carelessness the new law is aimed at curbing,\u201d stated Narhi.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Michigan.gov site provided statistics to back up the reason for the recent legislation.\u00a0 According to an April 7, 2022 posting,\u00a0 \u201c A 2020 fact sheet shows 5.8 percent of MIchigan\u00a0 crashes involved a distracted driver.\u00a0 There were 14,236 motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver in 2020, and 48 of those crashes resulted in a fatality.\u00a0 A year later, those numbers had increased to 16,532 crashes with 59 resulting in a fatality.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Penalties for violating the new distracted driving laws are as follows: \u00a0 First violation – $100 fine and\/or 16 hours of community service.\u00a0 Second\u00a0 or subsequent violation – $250 fine and\/or 24 hours of community service.\u00a0 Three violations within a 3-year period – Complete a driving improvement course.\u00a0 Fines are doubled if a traffic crash occurs and the at-fault driver was holding or manually using a mobile device while operating the vehicle, any civil fines will be doubled.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0While it is necessary for anyone who gets behind the wheel to understand the dangers involved in distracted driving, it is especially important for families with future (or young)\u00a0 drivers.\u00a0 Kids will model the behavior they see whether it comes from parents or older siblings.\u00a0 Driving while performing hazardous tasks teaches kids that distracted driving only happens to others.\u00a0 This behavior is wrong, dangerous, and is courting avoidable tragedy.\u00a0 How does one teach the younger generation to not do something dangerous (and in this case, illegal) by acting like it can\u2019t happen to me?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When a student is about to take a driver\u2019s education class, they are warned to not be seen driving a motorized vehicle.\u00a0 DE instructors are legally bound to not admit a student to class who is observed driving a motorized vehicle prior to taking the class.\u00a0 Whether it is lack of awareness of this rule or a case of \u2018oh, they don\u2019t mean me\u2019, bravado, a student arriving for class driving a golf cart, motor bike, or ATV is in for a rude surprise.\u00a0 It has happened locally and unfortunately, the blame somehow got shifted to the organization sponsoring the DE class, not at the parents who let their unlicensed son or daughter drive a motorized vehicle without a license.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0FOMO is another concept that our future drivers must be made aware of.\u00a0 \u2018Fear of missing out\u2019 is a known problem – people who hear the ping of an incoming text or phone call feel like they must respond immediately, even if they are driving.\u00a0 If it is important enough you must answer it, pull over.\u00a0 Even under the new law, you will not be cited for texting or talking while parked.\u00a0 The banners the S4SD volunteers hang around the school remind everyone, \u201cIt can wait!\u201d\u00a0 Self driving vehicles have not been around long enough to provide many accident statistics.\u00a0 Having already observed more than one person doing things they should not be doing while \u2018driving\u2019 (reading, calling, etc) while the car is on \u2018autopilot\u2019 sends a shiver up my spine. Why does this make me feel this new trend in driver safety will only make distracted driving seem less of a problem (\u201cHey, the car is driving, not me!\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A couple of more statistics provided by the S4SD program help underscore exactly why Michigan enacted the new distracted driving law:\u00a0 1) Cell phone usage is highest among 16-24 year-old drivers.\u00a0 2) Distracted drivers experience approximately a 35 percent decline in reaction time while driving, and 3) Distracted driving is responsible for more than half of teen crashes.<\/span><\/p>\n Education of all drivers coupled with the new hands free law enforcement efforts are the key to lowering the number of crashes and fatalities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We emphasize the Don\u2019t be Distracted message right down to the lower elementary level.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s 2019 statistics, more than 22,000 vehicle occupants were killed in crashes.\u00a0 Toss in speeding (the most common hazardous action cited for the drivers age 15-20 involved in fatal crashes), and the low rate of teen drivers and passengers who wear their safety belts (49 percent of the young drivers killed in 2019 were not wearing their safety belts, with 3 out of 4 having been ejected from their vehicle), and education becomes even more important in sharing the message about distracted driving.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We always ask the younger kids, \u201cWhy are we teaching you about this when you are not old enough to drive?\u201d\u00a0 This question never fails to illicit the correct response, even from the youngest kids:\u00a0 \u201cBecause we ride in cars!\u201d\u00a0 Less heartening is the show of hands we get when we ask, \u201cHave you ever ridden in a car with someone who is talking or texting on their phone?\u201d\u00a0 Looking at a roomful of students adds even more meaning to the old saw, \u201cIf we even save one life by doing this program, it is more than worth the effort.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Applications for the Strive 4 a Safer Drive grants are processed in the fall with the actual program taking place between January and April.\u00a0 Before the COVID pandemic, it was not unusual to see seventy school districts taking part across the state.\u00a0 The post-pandemic lockdown numbers have typically been less than half of that number.\u00a0 We would dearly love to announce \u2018there will be no S4SD – DbD program run in Ontonagon this year\u2019 because the problem has magically gone away.\u00a0 Human nature tells us we will no doubt be running with S4SD as long as it is still sponsored because distracted driving is one of those behaviors that seem to be hard to crack.\u00a0 WOAS-FM and the Ontonagon Area Schools aren’t the only Upper Peninsula schools that have run a S4SD campaign in the past, but we are the only district that has done a program every year since we joined.\u00a0 Help us make a difference and do your part – don\u2019t drive distracted.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Top Piece Video:\u00a0 Sir Paul’s music has been used as our S4SAD – DbD theme, so here he is again!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This fall, WOAS-FM will be applying for another $1000 grant co-sponsored by the State of Michigan and the Ford Motor Company.\u00a0 Perhaps you have saw the gold and red \u2018Strive for a Safer Drive – Don\u2019t be Distracted\u2019 banners adorning the \u2018Welcome to Ontonagon\u2019 signs at the village entry points on US 45 and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education","category-from-the-vaults","category-woas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2916"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2919,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2916\/revisions\/2919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}