Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


Various local and state police agencies are stepping up speed enforcement throughout the month of July.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning says “exceeding the speed limit is more than just breaking traffic laws—it represents dangerous behavior that threatens the safety of everyone on the road. Driving at high speeds with impatience or carelessness not only puts the vehicle’s occupants at risk but also endangers pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists”.

Data indicates that speed enforcement and public education efforts are yielding positive results in Michigan. To further encourage safer driving this summer, the Michigan State Police, as well as officers from city and county police departments across the state, will be conducting dedicated speed enforcement during the month of July.

Some participating across the WHMI listening area include the Michigan State Police Brighton Post; the Livingston, Genesee, and Oakland County Sheriff’s Offices; and police departments in Fenton, Chelsea, Novi, Owosso, and Grand Blanc Township.

In 2023, the state recorded 21,357 speed-involved crashes, reflecting a 20% decrease from the 26,700 speed-involved crashes reported in 2022—and a 32% decrease since 2019 (31,421 crashes), according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

OHSP Director Alicia Sledge commented “Some may fixate on the cost of a ticket, but the real concerns are the number of lives put in danger and the countless crashes that could be prevented if drivers chose to slow down. While we are encouraged by the progress shown in the data, we hope that this dedicated speed-enforcement effort will help curb the reckless behavior of hurried drivers this summer.”


In Michigan, in 2023, a review of speed-involved data found:

-Single motor vehicle crashes accounted for 72.2% of all speed-involved crashes.

-Excessive speed was a factor in 210 fatalities (19.2% of all fatalities) and 6,848 injuries (9.6% of all injuries) in motor vehicle crashes.

-The 210 speed-involved fatalities were a 5.8% decrease from the 223 fatalities in 2022.


Sledge added that even though speed-related crashes and fatalities are down, there are still too many drivers who put everyone at risk by speeding and driving recklessly. She said “We are asking every Michigander to make an effort this summer to slow down.”

The July speed enforcement campaign is supported with federal traffic safety funds provided by the United States Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the OHSP.

More information is available in the provided link. A list of participating agencies is attached.