When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called on the Legislature to take up bills that would address the dangers of distracted driving during her State of the State address on Tuesday, the proposals were ready to go.

Three bills that would only allow hands-free calls and texting, as well as increasing penalties for people who text or post on social media while driving, were introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

In addition to continuing her pleas to "Fix the Damn Roads," Whitmer also said that it's crucial to make driving safer, especially for young people.

"You can’t navigate any road if you’re looking at your phone," she said, introducing the family of Mitchel Kiefer, an MSU freshman who was killed by a distracted driver in 2016. "I believe it’s time for Michigan to join the 16 states that have passed hands-free laws to keep our roads and our kids safe."

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In 2017 in Michigan, there were 5,237 accidents, including 23 fatal crashes and 1,514 wrecks that resulted in injuries, that were caused by drivers who were using some sort of electronic device while they were driving, according to statistics from the Michigan State Police.

The state enacted a ban on texting while driving in 2010, but subsequent attempts to go further by a ban on holding and talking on a phone while driving have stalled in the Legislature. Former state Rep. Martin Howrylak, R-Troy, was the last sponsor of a bill that would ban talking on the phone while driving unless it was a hands-free option, but the bill never made it out of committee. His bill was proposed after his car was totaled by a driver who rear-ended him while she was talking on her cell phone.

Some cities, including Troy, Warren and Battle Creek, have enacted stricter distracted driving ordinances that ban holding and talking on a cell phone while driving. In the first year after Troy passed its ordinance in 2010, more than 600 citations were written.

But Whitmer, and now three state representatives, agree that more needs to be done on a statewide basis.

Two of the bills would prohibit posting on social media while driving and increase the penalties from $100 to $250 for the first offense and up to $500 for a second offense.

"We have to expand what we currently have and we want to craft something that we think can pass," said Rep. Jason Shepphard, R-Lambertville. "This is a good step in the right direction."

An outright ban on holding a phone while talking and driving "gets a little more tricky," he added. "But we have to start at least chipping away at the problem."

But Rep. Mari Manoogian, D-Birmingham, is ready to go completely hands-free with electronic devices.

Her bill relies on advancing technology, whether it's a blue tooth connection or a sync system that connects a phone to a vehicle's GPS system to accomplish virtually hands- free talking and texting.

"We want to make sure we take into account the modernization of vehicles, so people can use the technology in vehicles," she said. "As a young person, I believe it’s incredibly important to not just fix the roads, but make sure drivers are safe as well."

For people with older cars, she suggests the blue-tooth or other available wiring systems that will allow drivers to at least have a hands-free option for their cell phone.

"This should be a signal that we’re trying to cut back on distracted driving," Manoogian said.

The bills — HB 4181, 4198-4199 — have been referred to the House Transportation Committee and Sheppard said he expects hearings to be scheduled soon.

"We want to get moving on it soon and post some hearings," he said. "And then we need to get some feeling about where the Senate is on it."

Manoogian said she hopes Whitmer's calls for bipartisanship during her State of the State will extend to distracted driving solutions, especially as more and more construction workers are tasked with fixing the roads.

"This could mitigate a lot of the potential accidents out there," she said. "We can have legislation that's good, regardless of party."

Contact Kathleen Gray: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.