This time of year, our routines often involve checking recipes, crafting the perfect grocery lists, and making final travel plans to visit friends and family for Thanksgiving. However, 2020 has been a year unlike any America has seen in a century. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to adjust nearly every aspect of our lives, from the way we work and learn, to the way we shop, and even the way we travel. Following the governor’s stay-at-home order, traffic volumes on Michigan freeways plummeted by as much as 50 percent from where they were in late February. However, traffic volumes rebounded throughout spring and summer, eventually surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels in July.
Travel confidence on the rise
According to a survey conducted by AAA, nearly half of Michigan respondents say they are more comfortable traveling now than earlier in the pandemic crisis. With confidence in travel improving and more than 70 percent of respondents in that AAA survey from Michigan indicating they are most comfortable traveling in their personal vehicle, it is likely even in this unusual year that we may see Michigan roadways full of people visiting family and friends they have not seen in half a year.
When more cars are on the road, the opportunity for crashes to take place naturally increases. When those crashes do occur, a host of agencies – including fire, police, emergency medical services, and tow drivers – coordinate efforts to respond to the drivers and passengers involved, and remove obstructions from the roadway to keep the area safe for passing cars. Anyone who works along busy freeways – from maintenance and construction workers to first responders – are vulnerable in such exposed work environments. Unfortunately, many have been seriously injured and killed by passing vehicles.
Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week
As a reminder to remain aware of the workers along Michigan roadways, November 9-15 marks the Traffic Incident Management Network’s Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week. This year, the TIM Network has adopted the slogan, “Slow down. Move over. Be safe.” The State of Michigan already has a Move Over Law, which requires motorists driving where emergency vehicles are present to slow down to at least 10 miles below the posted speed limit and switch lanes away from the affected shoulder. While this law has been on the books in Michigan for some time, its scope changed a few years ago and now also requires drivers to take action when tow vehicles and freeway courtesy patrols are on the scene.
Insights and safety tips from Michigan State Police
Adhering to the Move Over Law is the first step to reducing risks for first responders on Michigan roadways, however, additional steps can be taken. According to Lieutenant Mike Shaw of the Michigan State Police, crashes where first responders are injured are often the result of secondary crashes. Lt. Shaw says, “Many of these crashes that don’t involve the crash scene or the emergency responders are gawker-related, or somebody’s too busy looking to see what’s happened on the side of the road and not to the car in front of them.”
Lt. Shaw also cautions against photographing or videotaping crash scenes while driving past. He tells SEMCOG, “If it’s [an accident] a bad enough incident, you can watch on the news later. There is no need to watch it from your side view mirror.”
Finally, Lt. Shaw notes that during the earlier pandemic period when people were driving less, troopers observed drivers at excessive speeds, including many over 100 miles per hour, well above any speed limit in Michigan. In fact, Lt. Shaw states that the highest speed in his district was clocked at 143 mph. He also says troopers have noticed declines in seat belt usage during the pandemic, whereas typically Michigan is a national leader in compliance.
With changing driver behaviors possibly resulting in more severe vehicle crashes, police may have to close additional lanes on freeways to process the scene more safely for workers present on scene. This may cause additional congestion. As Lt. Shaw states, “Sometimes when people don’t pay attention there’s certain costs that go with it, because law enforcement is going to have to do some things different to keep us safe.”
While we cannot be certain just how many people will be traveling on Michigan freeways this fall and holiday season, it surely remains important that all of us who drive take care and do what we can to protect the safety of the first responders out there so everyone can enjoy the upcoming holidays.
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