Itasca, IL – The National Safety Council congratulates the
Michigan Legislature for passing Senate Bill 756, which makes it a civil
infraction for motorists with level 1 or level 2 probationary licenses –
predominantly teens – to use cell phones while driving. The bill, also known as
Kelsey’s
Law, passed the state Senate in March and received approval in the House early
in the morning Dec. 14 during a lame-duck session. It now heads to Gov. Rick
Snyder to be signed into law.
The law is named in memory of 17-year-old Kelsey Raffaele
from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. In January 2010, Raffaele was driving and talking
on her cell phone when she caused a crash that took her life. Her mother,
Bonnie, has been working to get the bill passed for a year and a half. If
signed by Gov. Snyder, Michigan will be the 33rd state to pass a law
prohibiting novice drivers from using cell phones.
“We are grateful Michigan lawmakers recognized the dangers
of cell phone distracted driving and took action to protect teens,” said Janet
Froetscher, president and CEO at NSC. “Measures such as Kelsey’s Law will help
keep our roadways safer not only for teens in Michigan but for other motorists
who share the roads with them. We are very hopeful that the governor will sign
this into law so we can begin saving lives.”
NSC called for a total ban of all cell phone use while
driving for all motorists in 2009. NSC estimates 1 in 4 crashes involve cell
phone use, with about 1.1 million involving cell phone conversations. Drivers
using cell phones are at least four times as likely to crash and research
indicates hands-free devices offer no safety benefit because they do not eliminate
cognitive
distraction – the distraction of the brain.
About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the
National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities,
and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC
advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies,
elected officials and the public to make an impact where the most preventable
injuries and deaths occur, in areas such as distracted driving, teen driving,
workplace safety and beyond the workplace, particularly in and near our homes.