Posted on 02/01/2017 9:18:05 AM PST by MichCapCon
Gov. Rick Snyder signed a package of bills that will require specified engineering standards in setting speed limits in Michigan, helping to put an end to what some motorists claim are speed traps. The changes went into effect when the governor signed them into law on Jan. 4.
“This might be the best New Year’s present Michigan’s motorists and our visitors could have wished for,” said James Walker of the National Motorists Association, which supported the bills.
The bills will increase speed limits, with the limit on rural interstates going up to 75 mph. They also require that limits on roads be based on “speed studies,” in which traffic engineers observe how fast motorists drive on a given road. (The law makes exceptions for specific classes of roads such as neighborhood streets and roads in mobile home parks.)
The new law says that a speed limit can be no lower than the 50th percentile, or the speed exceeded by 50 percent of drivers. Speed limits can also be set based on a formula spelled out in the law, which is based on “access points,” or entrances on a given stretch of road. The formula is based on historic speed studies.
Traffic engineers use the 85th percentile to determine the safest speed, which can be done by eliminating speed variation among drivers. When a limit is set too low, the thinking goes, it encourages drivers to pick a variety of speeds, which could lead to tailgating, cutting-in and other conflicts that can cause crashes.
A number of groups, including those representing pedestrians, bicyclists and auto insurance companies, opposed making a speed standard part of state law, let alone setting it at the 85th percentile.
The Michigan Municipal League, which represents cities that set local speed limits, was pleased with the compromise.
“We believe it is important to be able to consider all users of the roadway when setting speed limits, and including the use of an engineering and safety study and having the flexibility to reduce speeds to the 50th percentile was a key factor in offering our support,” said John LaMacchia. He is the assistant director of state and federal affairs for the League.
While the National Motorist Association supported using the 85th percentile, Walker said the 50th percentile requirement should raise the limit in a number of places. He recently recorded the speeds of 1,193 drivers in Grand Rapids and found 97 percent of them exceeding the posted limit.
The law lets municipalities set lower limits, but only if the county road commission agrees. If there is no county road commission, the county board must agree.
I’m from Michigan and based on my trips home, I thought the speed limit was 100 mph.
Seems like a long time ago, when either Bob Seeger or Sammy Hagar sang that song ‘ I can’t drive 55!’
It’s about time we got rid of speed limits based cars built in the 1950’s with drum brakes and 50’s tech suspensions.
I once spoke with an Indian H1B software consultant who had been in the country all of two months, and already understood what the “Michigan Stomp” was.
Sammy
Ohio is going to try speed limits that change hourly, with a test case for I670 in Columbus next year.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/some-speed-limits-ohio-may-change-daily-depending-traffic/fn6Nd0U01zlQERLZ19i2JM/
But it will be only changed downward in a futile attempt to speed up rush hour traffic.
If there is ever a democrat governor again I can see them making money on this opportunity for speed traps.
Can’t get outa Detroit fast enough...
But then the pot holes means 35mph
I-696 = Macomb international speedway. The only place in Michigan where the state police would pull you over for going lower than the speed limit.
Those speed limit signs are just suggestions, mere “guidelines” more than laws.
Originally from Michigan I found the speed limits were a futile attempt at some form of sane driving. Then moved to Atlanta after a stint in Utah. 80 MPH in rural areas of Utah were awesome. Go 81 and you risk getting pulled over in Southern Utah.
Here in the ATL on I-285 they do have moderated speed limit signs. Trouble is you cannot even reach that speed limit during off hours most of the time since there’s perpetual construction slowing the flow. Traffic stinks and some drivers stink even more.
I should probably use a mouth guard while driving to prevent gnashing my teeth from frustration.
LOL. I visit Michigan 1 to 3 times a year and it seems if you are not going 80mph on 696 then something must be wrong with your car.
Good for liberty. However the law of physics still apply.
F=m(a).
Accidents might not go up, but I bet fatalities will...
But since payouts for dead folks tend to be lower than for folks with horrific injuries, insurance companies may be just fine with the speed increase.
I moved to Oregon from Michigan, and the I-84, I-205, I-5 corridor through Portland is an exercise in how to make the world’s largest linear parking lot.
In Michigan, M59 eastbound and M53 northbound were always the biggest headaches. Luckily I worked midnights and was always going the opposite direction.
Trump effect - making speed limits great again! (Sorry, couldn’t resist).
lol
It was Sammy Hagar:
Gonna write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can’t drive 55! Oh No!
Uh!
So I signed my name on number 24, hey!
Yeah the judge said, “Boy, just one more...
We’re gonna throw your ass in the city joint”
Looked me in the eye, said, “You get my point?”
I said Yea!, Oh yea!
Write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can’t drive 55!
Oh, yea!
I can’t drive 55!
I can’t drive 55!
I can’t drive 55!
I can’t drive 55!
Uh!
When I drive that slow, you know it’s hard to steer.
And I can’t get get my care out of second gear.
What used to take two hours now takes all day. Huh!
It took me 16 hours to get to L.A.
Gonna write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can’t drive 55!
No, no no,
I can’t drive...
(I can’t drive 55!)
I can’t drive...
(I can’t drive 55!)
I can’t drive 55!
That’s a good fun song. Sammy is even a good storyteller. Notice all the details and the logical sequence of events?
He, or somebody who wrote the lyrics has been through that scene before. I was surprised to see the word ‘Ass’ included in the lyrics, considering that it was released way back in 1984. The video on YouTube is fun to watch as well. Sammy in full rebel regalia, acting up! The Traffic Cop, cool in his dark wire shades.
Just watched the video, for the first time since 1986 or so. I had forgotten how much fun it was.
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