Michigan's roads are about to be more closely monitored as law enforcement officers state-wide gear up for Operation Ghost Rider, an initiative aiming squarely at drivers who can't seem to stay off their phones. According to Click on Detroit, starting Monday, Michigan police will employ unmarked spotter vehicles containing a law enforcement observer to help quickly identify and report distracted driving behaviors to nearby marked units for enforcement action.

The ongoing battle against the screen-induced haze of distraction that often overtakes motorists commences anew with officers trying to more aggressively enforce the hands-free driving law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year. The law, as reported by the Detroit Free Press, prohibits drivers from holding or operating a mobile device with anything beyond a "single touch" while their vehicle wheels are turning.

Jim Santilli, CEO of the Transportation Improvement Association (TIA) and chairman of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commissions’ Distracted Driving Action Team, expressed concern about the continual risk posed by distracted drivers. "Sadly, many people have lost a loved one to a completely preventable behavior. We can all do our part by keeping our eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times," Santilli told WXYZ. His comments underline the serious implications of inattention in the driver's seat, with the U.S. Department of Transportation findings showing that such drivers are considerably more likely to be involved in injury-causing accidents.

For those caught in the act, the cost isn't negligible: a $100 fine or 16 hours of community service for the first offense, escalating to $250 and 24 hours for the second. A sourced detail from the Detroit Free Press notes that, if a driver's wayward gaze towards a device results in a crash, that fine is going to double. And, should a motorist tally up three strikes within a three-year span, a driving improvement course beckons as part of their penance.

So, as the state of Michigan continues to roll out its elements of Operation Ghost Rider, remember that this is an endeavor that has been silently patrolling our streets since 2017, and is set to further press on through 2024. For the sake of everyone's safety — it might just be time to put the phone down, keep your sights fixed firmly forward, and spare yourself the stop, the fine, and the disquieting knowledge that you were willing to risk so much, for no more than a text, a scroll, or a call.