Michigan’s 75 MPH Speed Limit: Does It Increase Car Accidents?
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Does speed kill? A study by researchers from Michigan State University linked higher speed limits in Michigan to an increase in serious and fatal crashes. In 2016, Michigan legislators passed a law that raised speed limits from 70 mph to 75 mph on several Michigan highways. The law also increased the speed limit for trucks, including semi-trucks, on those roadways from 60 mph to 65 mph.
As speed limits rise, dangerous situations can develop quickly. After the new limits began taking effect in mid-2017, researchers found more crashes and more severe injuries on the affected roads.
If you or a loved one is injured in a crash, our team of experienced Michigan car accident attorneys will help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Do You Have a Case?WHICH MICHIGAN ROADS WERE AFFECTED BY THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASES?
Under Public Act 445 of 2016, speed limits increased from 70 to 75 mph (and from 60 to 65 mph for trucks) on hundreds of miles of rural freeways starting in 2017. The roads were selected based on research by traffic safety experts to identify stretches where higher speeds were considered less likely to produce crashes. Most were rural thoroughfares with wider shoulders and fewer access points than freeways in more populated regions.
According to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), speed limits were raised to 75 mph on portions of:
- I-69 east of Flint
- I-75 in the northern 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
These were among the first Great Lakes roads with limits above 70 mph. Speed limits also increased from 60 to 65 mph on additional Michigan highway miles.
HOW DO HIGHER SPEED LIMITS INCREASE ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES?
NHTSA cites speeding as a factor in nearly 30 percent of traffic fatalities, not all crashes. Many speed-related wrecks are also coded as alcohol or distraction crashes, so the true role of speed can be even larger.
Here are some of the ways speeding increases the likelihood of a deadly crash:
- Less time to react. At higher speeds, drivers have less time to respond if another motorist swerves or stops suddenly.
- Longer stopping distance. The faster a vehicle is moving, the longer it takes to stop, which raises the risk of rear-end and multi-vehicle crashes.
- More speeding overall. A 75 mph limit makes 80 mph and higher more common, especially in lighter traffic.
- More severe impact. Crash forces rise with speed, which increases the chance of serious injury or death.
- Greater risk with distractions. Cell phones and other diversions impair a driver’s ability to see and react. That risk grows at higher speeds.
- More speed variation. Crash risk rises when some vehicles travel 75 mph or faster while others merge or exit more slowly.
Even a small increase in speed can change a survivable crash into a serious or fatal one.
CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED AUTO ACCIDENT ATTORNEY TODAY
If you or a loved one is injured in a Michigan traffic accident, we can help. Our experienced lawyers have the skills, knowledge and resources to pursue the compensation you and your family deserve.
Car accident law is complicated, but finding the right Michigan auto accident attorney is simple.
“Even the most careful driver can have a serious accident,” says Mark Bernstein of The Sam Bernstein Law Firm. “When that happens, call us right away. Our experienced legal team will make sure you get the compensation you deserve.”
Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team.
Do You Have a Case?
