(WWJ) -- Michigan State Police will be on the lookout for speeding drivers this holiday season and beyond.
From December 1, 2021 through Feb. 28, 2022, MSP will be increasing patrols across Michigan due to a recent spike in speed-related fatalities.
According to recent data from the MSP Criminal Justice Information Center, there were 1,083 fatalities in crashes on Michigan roads in 2020, marking a 10% increase from 2019.
In response, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) will have more than 100 law enforcement agencies across the state turning their focus to speeding drivers.
“Despite the fact there have been less miles traveled, the fatality rate rose. And crash data shows that speed may have been a factor in many of these preventable crashes,” OHSP director Michael L. Prince said. “It’s no secret the faster you drive, the greater your risk of dying in a crash. We hope increased enforcement over the coming months will help change these dangerous driving behaviors and save lives.”
On a national level, 2021 has had the highest first-half total of traffic deaths since 2006, with 20,160 fatalities.
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