Michigan State Police seek holiday speeders – The Oakland Press
Police will increase the number of their traffic patrols this month to curb speeding and other risky behavior, including driving under the influence of alcohol.
The project involves state police and local authorities and is funded by federal traffic safety funds.
Speeders who are ticketed in construction zones face double fines and fees. Drivers who cause an accident in a construction zone and kill or injure a road worker face fines of up to $7,500 and 15 years in prison.
Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, said the goal is to save lives.
“Every speeding vehicle is a potential catalyst for tragedy and contributes to the grim number of preventable deaths and crashes each year,” Bower said. “We hope this speed enforcement phase will help reduce the impact of dangerous, impatient drivers this summer.”
Aggressive and reckless driving not only endangers the lives of drivers and passengers, but also contributes to the deaths and injuries of pedestrians and cyclists. Between 2020 and 2022, 103 cyclists were killed in Michigan, a 64% increase from the previous three-year period when 63 people were killed, according to the state’s crash statistics.
Speeding caused 26,700 crashes on Michigan’s roadways in 2022 – an 8.7% increase from the 24,555 speeding accidents in 2021. Figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that 87% of all speeding fatalities in 2022 occurred on non-freeway roads.
“Some people may focus on speeding fines, but the biggest questions are how many lives are put at risk by speeding and how many crashes could be avoided if drivers simply slowed down,” Bower said.
An analysis of 2022 statistics from the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute shows that speeding accidents
• 13.2% of drivers not wearing seat belts.
• 10.6% of drivers aged 15 to 20 years.
• 14.3% of motorcyclists.
“We are in the busy warm season and many families are driving to their favorite summer destinations,” Bower said. “Unfortunately, there are drivers who put everyone at risk by driving too fast and recklessly, increasing the likelihood of an accident.”
Each speeding ticket results in more than just fines and court costs. It adds points that stay on the driver’s record for two years and can lead to higher car insurance premiums.
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