Whether you’re a long haul trucker racing against a seemingly impossible deadline or simply chasing the clock in your bid to be the first one in the pool on your summer vacation be warned right now that there will be more State Police along I-94 this spring and summer and they will have zero tolerance for the driving behaviors most associated with traffic crashes.
Michigan State Police Director Kriste Kibbey Etue says motorists of all stripes can expect to see more Michigan State Police troopers patrolling I-94 this spring and summer, from the Indiana border all the way to Wayne County. With I-94 being the major thoroughfare between Detroit and Chicago, it is used by many area residents for their daily commutes, but the volume of traffic increases exponentially in the summer as visitors also use the route to get to Michigan’s vacation destinations.
With traffic crashes increasing again in 2017, troopers will be actively addressing the driving behaviors most associated with traffic crashes. Those behaviors include:
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Following too closely
- Improper lane use
- Excessive speed
Etue warns everyone “Motorists can expect troopers to take a zero tolerance approach to these dangerous driving behaviors.” She reports, “Most crashes are preventable, and the dangerous behaviors we see on I-94 need to change. Now is the time to send the message that these dangerous driving behaviors will not be tolerated. Hopefully we can make I-94 much safer this summer.”
Crashes on I-94 increased by 7-percent in 2017, from 6,010 crashes in 2016 to 6,453 crashes. Commercial vehicle-involved crashes on I-94 also increased, rising from 774 crashes in 2016 to 856 crashes in 2017 – an increase of 10-percent.
Statewide, traffic crashes rose by 1-percent, from 312,171 crashes in 2016 to 314,921 crashes in 2017.
In total, troopers conducted 460,446 traffic stops statewide in 2017, resulting in 133,293 citations and 358,400 verbal warnings.
So, plan your routes and your timing now for a safe passage. You have been duly warned. Be safe.
