Speeding on Macomb County Roads

Speed limit signs on Hall Road, Mound Road, and Van Dyke Avenue can be tempting to ignore when traffic is light and drivers are running late. But Michigan crash data makes clear that speeding is one of the most significant factors in serious and fatal crashes on the state’s roads — including the corridors Macomb County drivers travel every day.

What Michigan Data Shows About Speeding

According to the Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning, Michigan recorded 21,357 speed-involved crashes in 2023, reflecting a 20 percent decrease from the 26,700 speed-involved crashes reported in 2022, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Nationally in 2022, there were 12,151 fatal crashes in which one or more drivers were speeding. According to NHTSA, 87 percent of all speeding-related fatalities in 2022 occurred on non-interstate roads. That figure is relevant for Macomb County, where much of the most serious crash activity occurs on surface roads — Gratiot Avenue, Van Dyke, Mound Road, and Hall Road — rather than on I-94 or I-696.

A Michigan-specific review of 2022 speed-involved crash data, analyzed by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, found that 10.6 percent of drivers aged 15 to 20 involved in crashes were speeding, and 14.3 percent of motorcycle operators involved in crashes were speeding.

The Michigan State Police OHSP notes that speeding consequences include greater potential for loss of vehicle control, reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment, increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger, increased crash severity leading to more severe injuries, and increased fuel consumption.

Why Speed Matters on Macomb County Roads

The roads that appear on Macomb County’s highest-crash lists are high-speed, multi-lane surface roads where the posted speed limit is typically 45 to 55 mph. At those speeds, stopping distances increase, crash forces become greater, and drivers have less time to react to changing traffic conditions.

Michigan’s Speeding Laws

Under Michigan’s vehicle code, driving at a speed greater than is reasonable and proper having regard to conditions and the actual and potential hazards then existing is a civil infraction. Posted speed limits carry specific civil infraction penalties under MCL 257.628 and MCL 257.629. Enhanced penalties apply in school zones, construction zones, and other designated areas. Depending on the circumstances, speeding that contributes to a crash resulting in injury or death may also lead to criminal charges under Michigan law.

Michigan State Police, along with city and county law enforcement agencies across the state, utilize federal highway safety funding to conduct dedicated speed enforcement campaigns, particularly during the summer months. Macomb County drivers may see increased speed enforcement on primary corridors during the summer months.

What This Means If a Speeding Driver Caused Your Crash

When a driver was speeding at the time of a crash that injured another person, the speed may be relevant to a civil negligence claim. Whether speed was a contributing factor, and how that affects the legal options available to an injured person, depends on the specific facts of the crash — including police reports, witness accounts, and any physical evidence from the scene. An attorney can evaluate those facts and help identify what legal options may be available.

Michigan’s no-fault system provides PIP benefits for medical expenses and wage loss regardless of fault. Whether additional claims against an at-fault driver may be available depends on the nature of the injuries and the specific circumstances of the crash.

If you were injured in a crash involving a speeding driver anywhere in Macomb County, our team may be able to help. We serve clients throughout Macomb County and the surrounding communities. To speak with a Michigan personal injury attorney, contact us today.

Source: Michigan State Police OHSP, Speeding; Michigan State Police, “Police Stepping Up Enforcement to Address Speed-Related Crashes”; MCL 257.626 (Reckless Driving)