FATAL CRASHES SURGE AFTER SPEED LIMITS INCREASE ON MICHIGAN FREEWAYS

WHICH MICHIGAN HIGHWAYS NOW HAVE HIGHER SPEED LIMITS?

Speed limits were raised as a result of Public Act 445, which raised speed limits on 614 miles of rural freeways starting in 2017. Maximum speeds increased from 70 mph to 75 mph for passenger cars and from 60 mph to 65 mph for trucks. The roads were selected based on extensive research by traffic safety experts to identify areas where accidents were less likely to occur despite higher speeds. As a result, most were rural thoroughfares with wider shoulders and fewer access points than freeways in more populated regions.

The speed limits were raised on portions of the following freeways:

• I-69 east of Flint
• I-75 in the northern part of the lower peninsula and the eastern Upper Peninsula
• US-10 running east-west through the middle of the state
• US-31 in Oceana and Mason counties
• US-131 running north-south through the western lower peninsula
• US-127 running north-south through mid-Michigan

In addition, speed limits increased from 60 to 65 mph on approximately 900 miles of other Michigan highways. The combined total of 1,557 miles comprises about 16 percent of total state freeway miles in Michigan.

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WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIGHER SPEED LIMITS?

The study showed a 17 percent rise in overall accidents on the affected highways, despite researchers’ predictions that higher speed limits were unlikely to have a negative impact on these particular roads. Furthermore, fatal crashes increased 63 percent, from approximately 11 deaths per year to 18.

These results corroborated an earlier analysis by BridgeMichigan.com, which reviewed data from 2018, the first full year the new speed limits were in effect. That study showed the same 17 percent rise in accidents on the roads where speed limits increased compared to a 3.4 percent rise in crashes on all Michigan roads.

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DO HIGHER SPEED LIMITS INCREASE ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES?

The NHTSA cites speeding as a major cause of almost 30 percent of all crashes. However, traffic safety experts believe the percentage is actually higher because many accidents involving excessive speed are attributed to other causes such as drunk or distracted driving.

In addition, the pandemic spawned a rash of reckless driving behaviors, with Michigan State Police reporting more incidences of speeding, eschewing seatbelts and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, this trend has continued with no signs of subsiding.

Here are some of the ways speeding increases the likelihood of a deadly crash:

• Drivers traveling at higher speeds have less time to react to a motorist who swerves in front of them or stops suddenly. 
• Since many people exceed posted speed limits by at least 5 percent, especially on freeways, a 75 mph speed limit increases the odds of drivers going 80 mph or higher.
• The impact of a crash is greater when one or both vehicles are traveling at high speeds, increasing the chances of serious injuries or death.
• Aggressive driving and corresponding crash risk increases when vehicles are traveling at various speeds, which is more likely on roads where some cars are going 75 mph or faster while others are merging or exiting at slower speeds.

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