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Cort Freeman

Cort Freeman

Cort Freeman

Michigan Paves The Way With New HOV Lanes

Author Cort Freeman
Michigan now has HOV Lanes! (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

After leaving work today, I was driving north on I-75 when I noticed something strange. There was an extra lane next to me that I had never noticed. There had been Michigan’s usual summer construction, so maybe I never paid attention to what they were working on. Then, I saw it. A sign signaling that the new lane was a HOV lane. When did Michigan get HOV lanes?

I had been familiar with HOV lanes, or High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes from my time spent living in California. At certain times, these specially marked lanes can only be driven when you have at least one other passenger in the car. In some places, they are often referred to ask Carpool Lanes. During the provided times, you are not allowed to drive in these lanes with just yourself in the vehicle.

HOV Lanes on the highway at the golden hour

HOV lanes at the golden hour. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

I was driving north on 75 at 14 Mile when I finally noticed these new lanes. According to Michigan.gov, these HOV lanes on I-75 run from 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard in Oakland County. A few weeks ago, Michigan.gov said the project was expected to be done by the end of October, and clearly they are!

Michigan.gov says the HOV lane restrictions will only be in effect during peak driving hours Monday through Friday from 6am-9am and from 3pm to 6pm. Outside of these hours, you’ll be able to drive in this lane by yourself.

What Are The Benefits Of HOV Lanes?

The new Michigan HOV lanes will be beneficial in many ways. For starters, they reduce congestion on the highway. It creates an extra lane for some drivers to use during rush hour. Michigan.gov also points out that it can improve safety and efficiency, improve travel time reliability, and promotes carpooling to improve air quality. That makes sense. More people could be willing to carpool to work if they have access to an exclusive lane. Get to work quicker. Get home quicker. Let’s be honest, nobody likes sitting traffic.

These aren’t the only new rules you should be aware of on Michigan roadways, however. There has also been changes on Michigan’s distracted driving laws. Read more about those changes below.

Revamped: Michigan's New Distracted Driving Law Starts June 30

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, alongside state officials and advocates against distracted driving, took a significant step on June 7 by signing House Bills 4250, 4251, and 4252. These measures are designed to combat distracted driving, prioritize safety, and save lives. The new laws emphasize the importance of drivers keeping their complete focus on the road by encouraging the use of hands-free technology.

RELATED: 'Michigan Distracted Driving Law Expanding: What To Know

When will these laws go into effect?

Mark your calendars for June 30, 2023, because that’s when the new rules from HBs 4250, 4251, and 4252 will kick in. They don’t stop at just texting while driving. They also crack down on using social media, streaming videos, and even taking calls on handheld devices. If you’re caught breaking these rules in a regular car, you could be slapped with fines of up to $250. But if you’re driving a big rig or a school bus, be ready to face fines of up to $500. And if your distracted driving causes an accident, brace yourself because those fines will be doubled.

The previous distracted driving law in Michigan only covered texting while driving. This left other cellphone activities like mobile apps, social media, and video streaming unaddressed.

Distracted Driving Statistics.

According to AAA, taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles the risk of a crash. Reading an email or text for five seconds is equivalent to driving blindly across a football field. Cognitive distractions can last longer than you think, with mental distractions lingering for up to 27 seconds after tasks like texting or changing the radio station. Additionally, new teen drivers are three times more likely than adults to be involved in a deadly crash.

The AAA provides essential tips to avoid distracted driving, such as putting your mobile device out of sight to resist temptation, programming your destination before driving if using a navigation system, and safely pulling over before making calls or texting. They also said to ask passengers for assistance with navigation or messages, speak up if the driver is distracted, and avoid calling or texting others who are driving. Another helpful tip is activating the Do Not Disturb feature on your iPhone or Android to block calls while driving. They did note that everyone, including pedestrians and bicyclists, should stay focused in traffic and avoid using phones or playing games while walking or cycling.

What are the specific details of each House Bill?

  • House Bill 4250

    House Bill 4250 is here to modernize Michigan’s distracted driving laws. The law only covers texting while driving, but this bill takes it up a notch. It includes watching or recording videos, scrolling through social media, and more. But don’t worry, if you need to use your phone, the new law allows you to use voice-operated or hands-free technology. There’s also an interesting twist: if you’re repeatedly caught with three or more civil infractions in three years, the court can make you take a basic driver improvement course. The fines for these infractions are getting an update too.

    Distracted young male driver using his mobile phone while running over a pedestrian. Technology and transportation concept

    LanaStock/ Getty Images

  • House Bill 4251

    House Bill 4251 is all about ensuring reckless drivers face the consequences for putting everyone’s safety at risk. It covers commercial vehicles, driving record points, and driver improvement courses, holding those responsible accountable.

    Blue and red light siren flasher on top of police car. Flashing lights of police car, stopping the offender, traffic rules violation

    ANGHI/ Getty Images

     

  • House Bill 4252

    House Bill 4252 is all about keeping tabs on the new law’s effectiveness. It requires the Michigan State Police (MSP) to submit a progress report after 3.5 years to see how things are going. By the way, Ohio jumped on the hands-free law train too. According to the Governor’s Office, In just one month, they saw a nine percent drop in distracted driving. That means over 500 crashes were prevented.

    Close up woman working with calculator for document in office.

    Natee Meepian/ Getty Images

 

Cort Freeman was born and raised in Metro Detroit. He was named Clarkston High School 2009 Class Clown 13 years after graduating. Totally normal thing to happen. That’s thanks to his time spent as an Intern at Comedy Central and Social Media Correspondent for The Colbert Report. Cort has done comedy across the country, both standing up and sitting down. When he’s not trying to make you laugh on-air and online, he’s probably at home enjoying his favorite shows like Seinfeld, South Park, and The Office. He’s also totally uncomfortable writing about himself in the third person. Cort enjoys writing about comedy, food, sports, and entertainment. So, basically anything and everything.

What do you think about Michigan adding HOV lanes on our highways? Let us know in the comments!

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