Michigan enforcement cracks down on speeding in July
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — While you may want to speed off to your 4th of July destination, Michigan State Police and other agencies are reminding drivers to take it slow and safe.
“We are in the busy, warm-weather season with many families driving to their favorite summer destinations,” said Katie Bower, Director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. “Unfortunately, there will be drivers who put everyone at risk by speeding and driving recklessly, making crashes more likely.”
Law enforcement around the state is cracking down on speeding before the holiday weekend, and you can expect to see more officers, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers on the road this month, courtesy of federal funding.
“Each speeding vehicle is a potential catalyst for tragedy, adding to the grim tally of preventable fatalities and crashes each year,” said Bower. “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.”
26,700 crashes involving a driver who was speeding happened on Michigan roads in 2022, according to the Office of Highway Safety and Planning. This was an 8.7% increase over 2021.
More than 200 of those crashes were fatal.
Nationally, there were 12,151 fatal crashes in which one or more drivers were speeding in 2022.
6 News spoke to Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson over a video call, and he pulled his car over to the side of the road to speak to our team.
“Without a doubt speed and no seatbelts kill people, and when you add distraction to that, that’s why I pulled over to do this very thing,” said Swanson. “Take driving and roadways serious because they are unforgiving. It’s kind of like water: you love it until it’s dangerous, and there’s no turning back. I think the message is ‘be careful when you’re driving but also watch other people.’ You can drive defensively and safe a life.”
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