Traffic Fatalities Up In Michigan In 2019: MDOT

MICHIGAN — In the past week, 14 people have died on Michigan’s roadways, making it a total of 121 people since the start of 2019, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Compared to this time in 2018, that’s 14 more fatalities.
State officials say serious injuries are on the decline, however, with 13 fewer this year than last year. Some 72 serious injuries have been reported so far this year, for a statewide total of 591 to date.

Among the ways to keep injuries and traffic fatalities down is Michigan’s newly-expanded Move Over Law, which started Feb. 13. It requires drivers to slow down and move over when passing emergency, maintenance, and utility vehicles on the road.

Drivers now have to slow down to 10 mph below the posted speed limit as well as yield their lane, if possible, when passing police or emergency vehicles, roadside tow trucks, garbage trucks, maintenance, and utility vehicles that have amber lights flashing.

Failure to do so could result in a civil offense subject to a $400 fine, MDOT officials say.