Speeding … It might save time.  It might cost a life.

Driving over the posted speed limit / too fast for current road conditions – also known as speeding – is a serious safety issue that increases both the rate and severity of crashes. In 2023, speeding killed 11,775 people nationwide and 60 in Southeast Michigan.

Speeding is all too common on our roadways, along with other risky driving behaviors. “Driving Store” offers a satirical look at speeding and unsafe driving behaviors on our roads.

Fast Facts on Driving Too Fast

  • No safe place to speed – 57% of fatal and serious injury speeding crashes involved lane departure, while 20% involved intersections.
  • Sobriety counts – 27% of fatal and serious injury speeding crashes also involved driver impairment.
  • Design matters – SEMCOG, local governments, and transportation agencies throughout Southeast Michigan are working to redesign the roadway to be a safe, inclusive environment for all users – including strategies such as traffic calming to complement lower speed limits.
  • Safety is everyone’s responsibility – As one part of the Safe Systems Approach, and a layer of the greater strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities in Southeast Michigan, we all have a role in making sure our behavior keeps us and those around us safe.

Fatality risk for pedestrians increases greatly starting at an impact speed of 20 miles per hour, while for other auto crashes risk is much lower at the same speed (Source: NACTO).

Graph: Higher Speeds = Higher Likelihood of Death
Higher speed equals less reaction time

The higher the travel speed, the longer it takes to stop when a driver sees something or someone. Reduced speeds enable more time to react and stop.

Quick Tips to Improve Safety

  • Slow down while driving, keeping a safe speed for conditions.
  • Watch out for people, including those who walk and roll.
  • Give ‘em a brake in work zones. Michigan penalties include doubled fines for speeding in work zones, increasing the number of points assessed for speeding in a work zone, and Public Acts 296 and 297 of 2008 impose fines of up to $7,500 and 15 years in jail for motorists who injure or kill anyone on a road construction work zone.
  • Be courteous and do your part to create a safe and friendly transportation environment.

Nice Streets vs. Mean Streets

In the video, representatives from PEAC, a Southeast Michigan organization focused on empowering individuals with disabilities through cycling, active transportation, and self-advocacy education, share their experiences. Safety is a defining challenge of Vision 2050: Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan.

Vision 2050

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