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RISE IN DEADLY MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENTS PROMPTS DEMAND FOR STRICTER SAFETY LAWS
More stringent safety laws are urgently needed to curb the alarming surge in fatal Michigan car accidents, according to a new report by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. The organization’s 2022 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws, titled “Out of Control,” evaluated and ranked each state based on traffic safety laws in five major areas.
Out of a possible “red,” “yellow” or “green,” the researchers gave Michigan a “yellow” rating and recommended new laws to improve traffic safety across the state. Here are the details on the proposed changes aimed at reducing traffic deaths on Michigan highways.
HOW WERE THE STATES “GRADED” ON TRAFFIC SAFETY?
The ratings were based on 16 laws the researchers deemed most essential to reducing traffic deaths and improving highway safety. Each law came under one of the following five categories:
- Occupant Protection
- Laws regarding front and rear seat belts and motorcycle helmets
- Child Passenger Safety
- Laws for front- and rear-facing car seats and booster seats
- Teen Driving- Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Systems
- Laws governing minimum age for learners’ permits and drivers’ licenses, restrictions on passengers and nighttime driving, 6-month holding periods and supervised driving hours
- Impaired Driving
- Requirements for ignition interlock devices, child endangerment and restrictions on transporting open containers of alcohol
- Distracted Driving
- Laws prohibiting texting while driving and cell phone restrictions for teen drivers
Recommended reading: Fatalities Rose 10% In 2020 Despite Reduced Traffic: Important Takeaways From The Latest Michigan Driving Statistics
WHAT NEW LAWS ARE RECOMMENDED TO REDUCE MICHIGAN CAR ACCIDENTS?
The report recommended the adoption or revision of the following traffic laws to improve highway safety and decrease the number of fatal Michigan crashes:
- Primary enforcement of seat belt law for rear seat passengers
- Current Michigan rear seat belt law is considered “secondary enforcement,” which means a police officer cannot stop a vehicle and issue a ticket for a seat belt violation unless the driver committed another infraction first.
- Reinstating the mandatory motorcycle helmet law for all riders
- Since the mandatory helmet law was repealed in 2012, the percentage of non-helmeted motorcyclists killed on Michigan roadways has quadrupled, according to the report.
- Minimum age 16 for learner’s permit
- In Michigan, the minimum age for a Level 1 learner’s license is 14 years and 9 months
- Minimum age 18 for unrestricted driver’s license
- The current minimum age in Michigan is 16 for a Level 2 intermediate license and 17 for a full driver’s license without restrictions
- Mandatory ignition interlock devices for anyone convicted of impaired driving
- Michigan law requires ignition interlock devices for Habitual Offenders (those with two or more convictions within 7 years or three or more convictions within 10 years) seeking a restricted license when their mandatory revocation period ends. However, the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety believe these devices should be required for all impaired driving convictions, including first offenders.
Recommended reading: Pedestrian Deaths Increased Dramatically In 2020 Despite Reduced Traffic Due To Pandemic
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