As Yoopers, we all know that with fall comes rain, sleet and sometimes several inches of snow. Given the unpredictable driving conditions, we would like to remind our readers of Michigan’s hands-free driving law.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a bill making it illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads. Under the law, a driver cannot hold or support a phone or other device with any part of their hands, arms, or shoulders, according to www.michigan.gov.

Even if a cell phone or other device is mounted on your dashboard or connected to your vehicle’s built-in system, you cannot use your hands to operate it beyond a single touch.

As a result, you cannot manually do any of the following on a cell phone or other electronic device while driving:

≤ Make or answer a telephone or video call

≤ Send or read a text or email message

≤ Watch, record, or send a video

≤ Access, read, or post to social media

≤ Browse or use the Internet

≤ Enter information into GPS or a navigation system

There are three main types of distraction:

≤ visual — taking your eyes off the road

≤ manual — taking your hands off the wheel

≤ cognitive — taking your mind off the drive

Texting is the most alarming distraction because it involves all three types of distraction.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes.

You may have noticed that we have written editorials on this topic before, and continue to do so — mainly because some of us commute to work under these same unpredictable driving conditions, and we can’t help but notice that many of our fellow citizens are not following the law, putting others at risk for their own convenience.

The law makes holding or manually using a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle a primary offense — which means an officer can stop and ticket drivers for this violation. They are as follows:

≤ First violation — $100 fine and/or 16 hours of community service

≤ Subsequent violations — $250 fine and/or 24 hours of community service

≤ Three violations within a three-year period — complete a driving-improvement course.

≤ Fines doubled — If a traffic crash occurs and the at-fault driver was holding or manually using a mobile device while operating the vehicle, any civil fines will be doubled.

Remember to be considerate of others on your daily commute, and drive as though your own family is in the vehicle next to you — they very well might be.