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Michigan ranks low in new school zone distracted driver report

Distracted driving in school zones is a big problem in Michigan, according to a new report.
Steve Carmody
/
Michigan Radio
Distracted driving in school zones is a big problem in Michigan, according to a new report.

Michigan ranks near the bottom of a newreport on distracted drivers in school zones.

Jonathan Matus is CEO of Zendrive, a company that uses cell phone data to analyze driver behavior.

He says Michigan ranks 47th among the 50 states when it comes to distracted driving in school zones.

“Michigan is the worst state in terms of distracted phone use and aggressive acceleration near school zones,” said Matus.

California has the worst problem with overall distracted driving near schools, while Vermont ranked as the state with the safest school zones. 

In Michigan, Oakland, Macomb, and Ottawa Counties were rated the biggest offenders for distracted driving in school zones, while Mason County was ranked as the safest county in Michigan. 

Matus says increased driver awareness, as well as increased police presence in school zones, may help reduce the risk.

Copyright 2017 Michigan Radio

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Radio since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting. During his two and a half decades in broadcasting, Steve has won numerous awards, including accolades from the Associated Press and Radio and Television News Directors Association. Away from the broadcast booth, Steve is an avid reader and movie fanatic. Q&A