GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Michigan. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.
Authorizes full deployment of AVs without a human operator.
Helmets required for riders under 21 or for riders and passengers without additional insurance. Universal helmet law repealed 2012.
4 years
None
Zero tolerance for some drugs
Legal for medical and recreational use
Zero tolerance for THC
70 (75 on select segments)
65
70
60; 55 if speed limit for cars is less than 70 MPH
70
60; 55 if speed limit for cars is less than 70 MPH
0.17
30-180 days
After 45 days
Mandatory for high BAC (0.17) and repeat convictions
Yes
Yes
Under age 8 and under 57" tall
Under 4 yrs in rear seat if available
8-15 yrs or 57" or taller
17 years
14 / 9
6
50 (10)
16
10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
No more than 1 under 21
Front
Primary
16 and over
No
Yes, handheld ban. Primary law.
Drivers with Level 1 or Level 2 license. Primary law.
All drivers. Primary law.
None
n/a
None
n/a
The fallout from distracted driving is not pretty. When a person reads a text while driving, his or her eyes are off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s like driving the length of a football field while blindfolded. The result of such behavior? Crashes involving a distracted driver killed 3,142 people in 2019, nearly 10% more lives lost than the year before.
A new study found in a five-year period, nearly five thousand teens died in crashes because of speeding, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Story by Ali Hoxie
February 17, 2021
"For 30 years, 1979 to 2009, pedestrian fatalities decreased by 50 percent. Now, it's increased by 50 percent since then," said Richard Retting, who conducted the pedestrian fatalities study for GHSA.
Story by Joe Lapointe
March 4, 2020
As Michigan prepares to implement legalized recreational marijuana, the Michigan Office of Highway and Safety Planning's annual traffic summit considered how legalization may impact traffic safety.
Story by Mikenzie Frost
March 19, 2019
To place increased focus on pedestrian safety, Michigan law enforcement is cracking down on behaviors including speeding, failure to yield, and failure to use turn signals. Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning Director Mike Prince discusses the effort.
March 7, 2019
A new survey finds that more than half of Michigan medical marijuana patients have driven within two hours of a cannabis treatment. GHSA's Russ Martin discusses why marijuana impairment is difficult to assess and how providers can help warn against impaired driving.
Story by Alan Mozes
January 10, 2019
Authorizes full deployment of AVs without a human operator.
