Roadkill Nights 2018 Is Today!

Each August, people come out in droves to watch unique cars, old and new, parade down Woodward Avenue for the Woodward Dream Cruise. A newer addition to the Metro Detroit tradition, however, is Roadkill Nights - Powered by Dodge, an event that allows drag race fanatics to participate in the sport themselves! While this is the 4th year that the event is taking place, it is only the third year it will be taking place at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan.

Roadkill Nights will be taking place today, August 11, 2018, as a kickoff to the week leading up to the Woodward Dream Cruise! Roadkill Nights will go on all day from 10 AM to 11 PM, with thrill rides, motocross exhibitions, food trucks, and a variety of other family friendly activities. Roadkill Nights gives car fanatics the chance to show off their prized vehicles, and allows attendees to see a variety of rare and uncommon automobiles.

Additionally, Roadkill Nights gives amateur drag racers the chance to race down Woodward Avenue! Drag racers typically go down a ¼ mile track and can even reach speeds up to 300 miles per hour! The drag race qualifying rounds begin at 11 AM and the races will continue through to the end of the event. The stakes are high as throughout the course of the event, a total of $40,000 will be given out in prize money! Amateur drag racers have applied to be part of the races on the Roadkill Nights website. Those who just want to watch the race or show off their cars rather than participate, can purchase a car show entry package on the website, as well.

Tickets for the general public are $10 per person, but Pontiac residents can buy discounted tickets at $5 each online. Children under 12 get in to the event free of charge! Roadkill Nights are a fun way for the general public to enjoy motocross and drag and street racing in a safe, yet thrilling way, while also to kicking off the festivities for this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise.

While Roadkill Nights allows people to zoom down Woodward Avenue, not every car ride should be a high speed drag race. If you or someone you know has been injured by a speeding driver, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PC at 844.4MI.FIRM. Our attorneys fight for Michigan’s injured drivers.

The Dangers of High-Speed Police Chases

Source: GIPHY, Channel 4 News' Police Chase in Inglewood

Nothing makes for more exciting TV footage than a police chase. Yet in reality, police chases put all drivers on the road at risk of car accident injuries, all because of someone's reckless decisions. Earlier this summer on June 4, 2017, 25-year-old Timothy Remon Gomez stole a vehicle and took it for a joy ride near Grand River Avenue. Gomez was spotted speeding by Michigan State Police (MSP) who ran his license plate in their database to find that the car stolen. When Michigan State Police tried to pull him over, Gomez decided to flee, leading the Michigan State Police on a high-speed chase on I-96.

However, while attempting to turn westbound onto Martin Luther King Boulevard, Gomez crashed the stolen car and instead attempted to flee on foot. Authorities soon found Gomez hiding not too far away in an abandoned house. Gomez was arraigned in the 36th District Court Monday and was charged with driving without a license, resisting and obstructing police, and receiving and concealing a motor vehicle fleeing and eluding third degree, by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. Mr. Gomez was lucky that no one was harmed in this high-speed police chase.

High-Speed Police Chase Statistics

Deaths linked to police pursuits have increased in the last few years. An analysis by USA Today listed that 1 in 3 pursuits result in a high-speed car crash and police chases are responsible for more than 11,000 deaths from 1979 to 2013. It is estimated that 5,000 of those deaths include innocent bystanders and passengers. Typically, reports do not specify whether the victim was killed by the fleeing vehicle or another vehicle that was hit during the chase, but a relatively high number of high-speed car chases are caused by minor traffic violations, misdemeanors, or nonviolent felony charges.

“Overwhelmingly, someone is fleeing because they’ve got a minor warrant, their car isn’t insured, they’ve had too much to drink...the sanctions imposed by courts nationwide for merely stealing a car don’t justify anybody taking any risk.” said Edward Flynn, the police chief of Milwaukee, WI.

Police Technology Improvements

When analyzing previous police chases, officials are often torn between police being better trained on pursuing suspects in motorized vehicles or choosing better technology to help avoid high-speed police chases altogether. According to a 2006 Justice Department study, police officers only receive 40 hours of driving training compared to 72 hours of weapons training, and though many police cruisers have portable computers or electronic dashboards, the main "technology" used in police chases is tire spikes. This method is two decades old, and involves officers knowing where a fleeing car is headed so that they can pull a strip of spikes across the road to bring the vehicle to a stop by popping its tires. It's important to note that this procedure also endangers police personnel standing in the middle of potentially busy roads to try and stop the motor vehicles with the spikes. 

In terms of modern improvements, "devices that would shut off the engines of moving cars by transmitting microwaves are not commercially available a decade after the Justice Department funded their development," reports USA Today. A new device was made back in 2010 that shoots a GPS tag onto the exterior of a vehicle to track when cars stop so police can make an arrest. Still, only 20 of the 18,000 police departments nationwide use the device.

While high speed driving is sometimes necessary for law enforcement agents to do their jobs, speeding in a car is dangerous even when the reason for doing so is to catch a criminal. Although speeding may be unavoidable, hopefully, new technologies and more high-speed chase training will help avoid some speeding car crash injuries.The hope is that the primarily negative consequences of police chases, such as innocent pedestrian car crashes, will spur officials and tech companies alike into improving the software available for high-speed pursuits. Even adopting new policies that emphasize reserving police chases for suspected violent felons could help minimize the risks of injury related to a speeding car accident. 

Fact: Around 76% of high-speed police chases last only about 5 minutes yet are responsible for approximately 7,400 car accident injuries every year. If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident involving a speeding driver, please contact The Michigan Law Firm PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.

New Safety Barriers Hope To Minimize Storefront Crashes

At least 60 times per day, cars crash into storefronts, restaurants, and businesses, sending vehicles into windows and front doors at road speeds. In fact, the Storefront Safety Council says over 4,000 people are injured and 500 people are killed each year from storefront car crashes. While many stores have safety barriers in front of them to prevent vehicles from hitting buildings, the regulations on these barriers are virtually nonexistent. Additionally, TODAY reports that there are no federal requirements for stores to have protective barriers in front of their businesses. This makes it even easier for careless drivers to run down roadblocks or to bypass sidewalks, endangering pedestrians and store workers alike. 

Luckily, new technology is being developed that hopes to minimize storefront crashes. Traditionally, safety barriers in parking lots and in front of stores look like short yellow poles, but are basically steels pipe filled with concrete. Tests at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute show these barriers being knocked down like a bowling pin when hit by a car traveling at 20 mph, the speed of most parking lots. 

Therefore, the latest design of storefront safety barriers use stainless steel in place of concrete. These improved car crash barriers last longer, don’t rust in extreme weather conditions, and require less maintenance and upkeep. When tested by the same car on the same track as the yellow concrete barriers, the stainless steel barriers completely stopped the vehicle, traveling at 20 mph. Even when tested at 30 mph, the stainless steel barrier barely flinched, not only preventing a car from hitting people inside a nearby store, but also keeping the vehicle from running over pedestrians walking near the barriers. 

28% of storefront incidents are caused by operator error, with another 28% caused by pedal errors. Simple vehicle malfunctions often set drivers up for disaster, forcing them to lose control and crash into nearby stores. Speeding through the parking lot also may cause storefront crashes. Because these crashes can happen so easily, safety barriers are encouraged to help save lives. As new technologies develop, it is up to business owners to install preventative barriers to keep employees and customers on their feet.

Speeding and careless driving may lead to serious motor vehicle accidents. Storefront crashes are not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about an automobile accident, but happen more often than people think. It is important to pay attention at all times when driving, even if only driving in parking lots, and to slow down and watch out for pedestrians. People involved in storefront crashes are never expecting to be in danger while shopping for groceries or waiting for a dentist appointment. Modern safety barriers can help prevent car crashes from happening and may protect innocent bystanders from being injured or killed in a storefront car accident.  

Speeding and careless driving frequently contribute to storefront car crashes. If you or someone you know has been injured in a automobile accident caused by a speeding driver, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. We fight for victims of speeding car crashes.

Man Dies In Flint Area After Crashing Stolen Police Car

A 24-year old Michigan man has passed away after stealing a Michigan State Police car early on the morning on July 9, 2017, and crashing it 20 miles away. 

MLive reports that police officials were called to the area of M-55 and Plank Road in Tawas shortly after 4 AM, to look for a man driving a golf cart along the road without headlights. 

Phillip Everett, of Greenbush, Michigan in Alcona County, was stopped by troopers and arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. As troopers worked to secure the golf cart, Everett was able to move into the driver’s seat of the police car and drive away at high speeds. 

Law enforcement discovered a short time later that Everett had crashed the patrol car at southbound US-23 near East Bessinger Road in Arenac County. He died as a result of his injuries sustained in the crash. 

Drunk driving crashes kill 1 person every 51 minutes in the United States, despite all 50 states making it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. As in Everett's case, driving while impaired may lead to arrest, serious injury, and even death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends the following safety tips to help prevent drunk driving:

  • If you will be drinking, plan on not driving. Plan a safe ride home before you start the party. Designate a sober driver ahead of time or plan to use a ride-sharing business like Uber or Lyft.
  • If you become unexpectedly intoxicated, do not drive for any reason. Once again, call and Uber or call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation. The NHTSA also has a SaferRide mobile app available, allowing users to call a taxi or friend and identify their location so they can be picked up. 
  • If someone you know has been drinking, do not let that person get behind the wheel. Take their keys, take them home, or help them arrange a sober ride. 
  • If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement. Your actions could help save someone’s life. 

Drunk driving can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Reckless driving and speeding may also lead to accidents, endangering drivers, passengers, and people in other motor vehicles and on the roads. If you or someone you know has been involved in a severe car crash, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation. 

Are Americans The Worst Drivers In The World?

Source: GIPHY

The United States is known for its enthusiastic love of American football, for popularizing the juicy hamburger, and for its all American privilege of freedom for all. What the US can't proudly brag about however are its citizens' bad driving habits, commonly characterized by cell phone usage and the consumption of snacks and drinks while behind the wheel. The frequency of car accidents on US roads is constantly in the news. In fact, ABC News reported that there were over 41,000 deaths on American roads in 2015 alone. As tragic as this statistic is and as commonplace a stereotype about bad American driving is, surprisingly, American drivers are only in the middle of the pack when it comes to road safety.

Perhaps it's due to different driver’s license requirements and road organization from country to country, that many other countries come out on the better side of traffic fatality statistics than the US. This may especially be because distracted driving is not as common in these countries as it is in the United States. Germany in particular comes out on top as a safer driving country than the US despite the fact that their road speeds regularly reach 140 mph on the autobahns. Distracted driving is a danger that millions of Americans participate in daily, that may lead to severe injuries or traffic fatalities. However, because German drivers tend to obey road rules more than Americans, and are less likely to be distracted by activities that take their eyes off the road when they are traveling at such high speeds, they are generally safer drivers. 

Another reason Germany has more safe drivers may be due to the training Germans receive prior to becoming certified to drive. In Germany, there is a more difficult path to earning a driver’s license, involving a tougher written test, and required road tests in four different types of driving environments before allowing people to get a driver’s license, at age 18. On the other hand, each US state has their own age requirements for receiving a license, typically allowing teens to becoming licensed at age 16, following driver’s education classes and a basic road test. On top of stricter German license requirements, new drivers in Germany are essentially on probation for two years and in the event that they receive a traffic infraction, are booted back to driving classes.

Even stricter than Germany, Japan carefully polices written and road tests, only allowing drivers to skip their road test if they take a $2,500 driving course. The country is so specific on their driving requirements that, coupled with excellent public transit systems, many people avoid driving altogether. Then there is Iceland, which requires driving in snow and ice to be a part of the road test. Some US States, including Michigan, could benefit from adding this type of practice to their road tests for optimal winter driving safety!

Great Britain also appears to have safer drivers than in the US, possibly because the country has fewer freeways going through city centers than American cities do. This means that there are fewer high speed auto collisions as a whole. Heavy congestion in British cities also doesn’t allow many people behind the wheel in Great Britain to be able to get up to the speeds typically needed for fatal collisions. Andrew Howard, head of road safety for Great Britain says, “Our plummet in road deaths in recent years has been particularly in urban areas. You now can’t get up the speed to have them."

The famous British 'stiff upper lip' has also been attributed as a reason that car accidents are not as prevalent in Great Britain, as British drivers maintain their emotions and don't exhibit aggressive driving behavior, which in the US usually leads to road rage car accidents. An American expatriate living in London for the past 11 years explained, “You still have very much more courtesy and abiding by the rules in England. Someone will go zipping by at 100 [mph] , but they’ll do it in the appropriate lane."

While many countries have better safe driving records than America, there are still others that have worse car crash statistics. Unlike the other European countries mentioned in this article, Portuguese streets are almost twice as deadly as American roads. Turkey's driving conditions were described in a US State Department 'driver safety briefing' as, “pedestrians seemingly completely oblivious to oncoming traffic … vehicles backing up (in reverse) on exit ramps and on main highways … [and] oncoming drivers who play inscrutable light games, flashing and flashing whether you have your ‘brights’ [high beams] on or not.” 

Perhaps worse than bad driving skills are the bad behaviors of Russian drivers who often bribe the police to get out of traffic tickets and driving under the influence of alcohol, and to drive unlicensed vehicles. Sergius Morenc, an ABCNEWS correspondent in Moscow, said, "there are, of course, standards and rules to be followed, but nobody follows them...If somebody breaks down, say, in the fast lane, he will take his spare wheel out or start working on the engine where he stopped." 
Finally, the United States still has safer roads than South Korea, the worst country to drive in, because highways are desperately in need of repair due to constant car accidents which occur when roads are congested.

So, the truth comes out: Americans are not really the worst drivers in the world. But, stereotypes are hard to shake, which is maybe why many Europeans still wonder if Americans are the worst drivers. Nevertheless, the US could do with less distracted driving driving car accidents. Americans should stop participating in lengthy group chats, stop finessing their Pandora playlists, or eating a three course meal while in the driver’s seat. Speedy driving also needs to be reduced in order to have safer American roads and to reduce the number of fatal speeding car collisions. Overall, driving policies are criteria that vary no matter where one is in the world, but it is the need to travel between destinations that unites all people to rally for vehicle safety.

Driving is a universal action. Humans also universally display tendencies of speeding, distracted driving, and other actions that may lead to dangerous motor vehicle accidents. If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident and call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. We offer free consultations for victims of motor vehicle collisions. Contact us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM.

The Dangers Of Driving In Heels

A Florida woman from Fort Walton Beach claims that her flip flops are the reason behind her automobile accident. The anonymous female driver stated that she was in the process of backing out of her driveway when her foot slipped and her heeled shoe got caught under the gas pedal preventing her from braking in time. She crashed through her neighbor's house across the street and nearly killed a young boy in the process. Accidents like this may seem outlandish but are more common than people might believe. In fact, a UK court recently heard an ex-model's tale of how she accidentally hit a cyclist while test driving a car, due to wearing 2-inch-heels.

Why Proper Driving Footwear is Important

The model in the UK case was Julie Hunter. Ms. Hunter was supposedly test driving a car in a 30 mph zone but was going 50 mph. In an attempt to avoid hitting another vehicle on the road, Ms. Hunter spun out her car and hit a cyclist named Debbie Riches. Upon impact, Riches’ bicycle flew 20 feet into the air before landing and becoming pinned under Ms. Hunter's vehicle. Ms. Riches was pinned under Hunter’s vehicle for about 30 minutes until fire crews arrived and were able to lift the car by utilizing inflatable airbags. Riches was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical team rushed Hunter to a nearby hospital for her fractured skull and internal ear damage.   

The crash investigator who worked on the scene determined that there weren’t any mechanical issues with the car Hunter drove or the bicycle that Riches was riding at the time of the accident. However, the investigator did say that the, "very high" heels worn by Hunter may have inhibited her ability to drive. 

Examples of Improper Driving Footwear

Coincidentally, Shell Oil Company conducted a survey on over 1,000 drivers and determined that at 29% of drivers aged 18-30 are more likely to drive while wearing inappropriate footwear, including shoes with wide bottoms, thick soles, or even driving barefoot. Shoes that have wide soles can make it harder for a driver to properly place their foot on one pedal at a time. In a similar sense, shoes with thick soles make it harder for a driver to gauge the amount of pressure needed to apply to the pedals. Respectively, improper footwear does not just pertain to woman, but includes male footwear as well. Some typically male styles of shoes that may be improper for safe driving include oxfords, work or steel toe boots, and sandals.

The Recommended Footwear for Driving

The Telegraph advises that drivers should stick to shoes like the moccasins or athletic footwear for easy stow-ability, comfortability, and proper sole-to-pedal ratio. Motorsports shoes are also a responsible alternative to prevent scuffing while providing grip. 

With summer having arrived in Michigan, many drivers refuse to wear anything but sandals until cold weather hits returns. These drivers should remember the importance of wearing proper foot gear as a precaution to avoid getting into car accidents. If compromising their style is their biggest worry, drivers can keep a pair driving appropriate shoes in their car year round that they can switch out with whatever shoes they want to wear once they get out from behind the wheel of their motor vehicle. Valuing fancy footwear over driving safety is not worth a trip to the ER!

All drivers, and not just ladies, should be aware of the shoes, or lack their of, that they wear when driving. Wearing the right footwear could possibly prevent motor vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC at 844.4MI.FIRM today, for a free consultation. 

Belle Isle's Detroit Grand Prix

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, a staple event in the Motor City for the last three decades, took place from June 2-June 4, 2017 on Belle Isle. The results ended in a weekend sweep for driver Graham Rahal, who became the first IndyCar driver to win both races in the Grand Prix doubleheader. Rahal has followed in the footsteps of his father, Bobby, who won one of the races at the event in 1992.

Over 100,000 fans from around the area attended the three-day event, gathered in bleachers near the track to watch cars race by at speeds up to 150 m.p.h. For fans, there is a fascination created from race cars zooming by combined with the classic Michigan location. The racers movements around the track are so elegantly sleek and the air on the track is so charged that it can seem as though anyone can just jump in a car and step on the gas pedal. However, looks can be deceiving as only the professionals are capable at taking round turns and switching lanes at high speeds without flipping their cars and causing serious injuries to themselves. This precaution leaves all other non-race car drivers to keep an eye on speed limits and follows the rules of the road in order to avoid motor vehicle accidents and even death. 

It's not news that speeding endangers the lives of drivers and those around them. In fact, in 2014, 9,262 lives were lost due to speeding-related crashes. Plus, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one of the factors that inspires people to speed is the feeling of detachment drivers feel when inside a motor vehicle. It is easier to disregard speed limits when one feels like their behavior on the road cannot be seen by others. However, drivers on local roads can be observed by others, and speeding does lead to severe crashes and fatalities. When getting behind a wheel of a car, people need to remind themselves that they are not on a race track and the high speeds like those at the Grand Prix are not suitable for everyday roads.

There are a variety of ways to prevent accidents caused by speeding. In general, drivers should pay attention to signs listing speed limits and go slower than what they believe the limit is, when they do not see any signs. People also need to go extra slow in highly congested areas and where there are many pedestrians. It is important for fans of race car driving to remember that these high speeds are made for tracks and experienced drivers, and that high speed driving should not be imitated on local roads.

The fast paced competition on Belle Isle this weekend provided endless entertainment for people as they took in the surrounding view of the Detroit skyline and cheered on their favorite drivers. It brought fans together from across the area, wondering who would be the one to pass all the other cars for the trophy and a victory lap. The big weekend winner, Graham Rahal, said to the Detroit Free Press that, “when you get a chance to win a race, you never take it for granted.” While enjoying the sport, fans of the Grand Prix and other high-speed race car competitions also need to keep an eye on the speed limits of local roads, so they too can enjoy safe driving without taking it for granted.   

The Motor City is known for its love of sports, including race car competitions like the Grand Prix. Fans of high-speed races need to make sure that they drive within the speed limits on local roads, and remember that they are not on a race track. Following speed limits and the rules of he road can help drivers from being involved in high speed car accidents. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a speeding car crash, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC for a free consultation today. Contact us at 844.4MI.FIRM.

Lamborghini Huracan Added To Italian Police Service Fleet

While Italy is already known for its production of ultra high-end sports car manufacturers like Ferrari and Maserati, the country's police department is currently making a splash for its newest service vehicle. On March 30, 2017, the keys to a Lamborghini Huracan were handed to Interior Minister Marco Minniti, during a ceremony in Rome, Italy.

According to CNN, "In addition to the as-standard all-wheel drive and aluminum-carbon fiber hybrid chassis, the Huracan comes equipped with crime-fighting gadgets, including an on-board police tablet computer. It's also decked out in police decals and comes in the official color of the Italian police - police medium blue. The car also features the standard cop-issue gun holster, portable extinguisher, VHF police radio and even hooks to hold the "paletta," the traditional hand-held red-and-white "stop" sign, in place."

The question on everyone's mind is why does a police department need a supercar with a top speed of 201 mph that can go 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds? 

Well, "The supercar will be used for special assignments such as the urgent transport of blood and organs, but when its not required for ultra-quick deliveries, it will patrol the highways surrounding the Italian city of Bologna, according to the manufacturer. Its specialty, unsurprisingly, will be chasing down speeders." Fortune reports, "There's also a defibrillator in the car, which can save lives by inducing targeted electric shocks that restore normal heartbeat in case of serious arrhythmia or ventricular fibrillation."

CNN also informed readers that "It isn't the first supercar pressed into the service of the law. Another Huracan has been operated by Rome's traffic cops since 2015, and a Gallardo LP560-4, with its top speed of 230 mph (370 km/h), will be retired as the new vehicle comes into service."

The Dubai Police Department's Luxury Platoon

Using supercars as police vehicles is not exclusive to Italy. In Dubai, tourists stopping the police to take a selfie with their service vehicle is a common occurrence. Who can blame tourists from being amazed when among the Dubai Police Department's collection are a bespoke Aston Martin One-77 (only 77 of these were ever built), a Bentley Continental GT, three hybrid Porsche Panameras, two BMW i8s, and a Bugatti Veyron. The Veyron is the department's most impressive vehicle, boasting a top speed of 253 mph and the capability to go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, which The Guinness Book of World Records certified as the world's fastest police vehicle in service.

These luxury police cars are however are only typically driven around the Dubai Mall and Jumeirah Beach and other tourist hot spots, in order to drum up attention. In fact, Major Sultan Al Marri of the General Department of Transport & Rescue told CNN, "We're not looking to just show off with the car, we're looking to show tourists how friendly the police is here in Dubai. We are looking for ways to connect with people all the time."

The Michigan State Police's Sports Cars

Though they may not be on the same six-to-seven-figure price level of the Huracan and the Veyron, the Michigan State Police (MSP) is no stranger to sports cars. In addition to Chevrolet and Ford SUVs and the nationwide police standard vehicle, the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, the MSP also uses Dodge Chargers. And though they're known for the "Blue Goose," for their 100th Anniversary earlier this year, the Michigan State Police added 50 new 2016 Dodge Chargers, painted black and gold in homage to the 1937 Ford Model 74-one of their first patrol cars. 

Source: GIPHY, Top Gun

Sports cars, whether the go 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds like the Charger or in 2.5 seconds like the Veyron, are all designed with the same purpose in mind: speed. However, speed is also one of the main causes of car accidents. In research conducted by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was found that, "There were 32,675 traffic fatalities in 2014, among them 9,262 (28%) that occurred in speeding-related crashes." So, even if you "feel the need for speed, " like Top Gun's Maverick, it's safer for drivers of sports cars to stick to the speed limit. Otherwise, speeding drivers might find themselves being speedily rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

Car accidents caused by speeding are very preventable. By following the speed limit, drivers are less likely to be involved in motor vehicle collisions, and in the case they are still involved in car crashes, are likely to avoid more serious injuries than they would have sustained if they were speeding. Speeding to save five minutes off of your travel time is not worth being involved in a collision that could cause serious injury or even death. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a car crash caused by speeding, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. We help victims of speeding collisions identify and receive compensation from any benefits they may be entitled to under Michigan law. Call us at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultaion.

Study Argues for 20 MPH Speed Limits for City Streets

ProPublica, an investigative news nonprofit, published an interactive graph last week that makes the argument that lowering the speed limit on city streets even slightly could be the difference between life and death. ProPublica’s Lena Groeger created a chart which showed the chances of survival decreasing as motorist speeds increased.

According to the data, the average pedestrian struck by a driver traveling at 20 miles per hour has a 93% chance of surviving. “Once cars reach a certain speed (just above 20 mph), they rapidly become more deadly. A person is about 70% more likely to be killed if they’re struck by a vehicle traveling at 30 mph compared to 25 mph” Groeger explained. 

About 1 out of 5 pedestrians will not survive a collision which takes place at 30 mph. While the statistics for the average-aged person are high enough, the statistics related to elderly people are even more staggering. “While it might be common sense that faster cars are deadlier, what’s particularly striking to me is how much more deadly they are for older folks. A 70-year-old hit by a car going 35 mph is about as likely to be killed as a 30-year-old hit by a car going 45 mph (in both cases it’s about a 50/50 chance),” Groeger wrote. 

As you can see in the graph below which was published by ProPublica, when a pedestrian collides with a car that is travelling at 40 mph, 45% of people of all ages will not survive, and 70% of older pedestrians will also not survive. ProPublica’s study not only points out the dangers of collisions at high speeds, but it also points out the advantages to lowering the speed limit in areas with high foot and bicycle traffic. Slower speeds reduces stopping distances, which can make it easier for drivers to come to a complete stop before striking somebody on the road. 

In 2010, citizens of Warrington, England created a “20’s Plenty” campaign, which was aimed at getting speed limits in the city down to 20 mph. In the time since the start of the campaign, more than 14 million residents of the UK now live on streets with speed limits of 20 mph or less, according to 20’s Plenty founder Rod King. 

While campaigns around the world are looking to reduce speed limits, the Michigan state legislature has been debating the merits of raising the highway speed limit since February. The Republican-controlled Michigan House began to discuss a package of bills that would allow for speed limits of 75 to 80 mph on rural freeways. Discussion of these types of speed increases has hit a speed bump however, as a May 2016 report came out to reveal a 10 percent increase in traffic fatalities in 2015. 

Drivers should always be aware of speed limits and traffic signs while on the road, but they should be especially cautious when driving through a busy city street or residential area. As the data shows, it doesn't take much speed to inflict serious harm on a pedestrian. If you or somebody you know has been struck by a car, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Pedestrians have rights and our attorneys will fight to get them the help they need. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.