MICHIGAN, USA — Michigan drivers, watch your speed. Especially this month.
Michigan State Police, along with other city and county officers, are beginning their annual speed enforcement campaign this July. They plan to pull over more speeding, aggressive and reckless drivers in hopes of reducing crashes.
Police say in 2022, there were 26,700 crashes on Michigan roads that involved speeding. That's an 8.7% increase over the 24,555 speed-related crashes in 2021.
“Each speeding vehicle is a potential catalyst for tragedy, adding to the grim tally of preventable fatalities and crashes each year,” said Katie Bower, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
“It is our hope this speed enforcement period will help lessen the impact of dangerous, impatient drivers this summer. While some people may focus on fines for speeding, the biggest issues are how many lives are put at risk because of speeding and how many crashes could be avoided if drivers simply slowed down," said Bower.
Speed-involved crashes from 2022 show the following data, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute:
- 13.2 percent of unrestrained drivers involved in crashes were speeding.
- 10.6 percent of drivers aged 15 to 20 involved in crashes were speeding.
- 14.3 percent of motorcycle operators involved in crashes were speeding.
“We are in the busy, warm-weather season with many families driving to their favorite summer destinations,” Bower said. “Unfortunately, there will be drivers who put everyone at risk by speeding and driving recklessly, making crashes more likely.”
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