Persistent and heated is the debate about Ann Arbor's Crosswalk Law. Most recently, after the city council voted 6-4 to repeal the ordinance that was put into place in 2011, Mayor Heiftje used his veto power to null the vote. In its current state, the Ann Arbor City,...
Year: 2013
Beware of Dangers posed by Numerous Drunk Drivers on Thanksgiving Weekend
Although Thanksgiving weekend is thought of as a special family time, it is statistically the most dangerous holiday weekend due to the high volume of people on the road and 4-day-length of overindulgence that always begins on a Thursday. According to the National...
Bike lanes on the rise on Michigan
"Bicyclists have a right to be on the road." This comes from Josh DeBruyn during a recent interview on Michigan public radio, where the bike and pedestrian coordinator for Michigan Department of Transportation explained the rise in bike lanes. He says that according...
Proposed Crosswalk City Advisory Committee
Following the death of Sharita Williams in August who passed away from injuries sustained when she was hit by a car on Plymouth road, the city of Ann Arbor and its residents have raised concerns about the efficacy of crosswalks and their notification systems. Two...
Crosswalk Safety and Distracted Driving
The recent incident in Ann Arbor, where a University of Michigan student wasstruck by a car while walking in a crosswalk on Plymouth road, has sparked new conversation about pedestrian safety. How much caution do flashing lights provide? Is distracted driving more...
Bicycle Safety
All too often, bicyclists and motorcyclists do not wear helmets. The recent change to the Michigan Motorcycle Law, which now allows motorcyclists to choose for the themselves if they want to wear a helmet, has only increased the community's acceptance of helmet-less...
Jackson County’s Most Dangerous Intersections
The Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning identifiesJackson County's most dangerous intersections. Unfortunately, between 2003 and 2007, the intersection of West and West Michigan Avenues was the county's most accident prone area; it was home to 139...
Michigan Senate Passes Bill That Would Allow Self-Driving Cars on Michigan Roads
In an effort to remain a state leader in the auto industry, the Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 169 this week that, if the Michigan House also passes the bill, would allow manufacturers to test self-driving cars on Michigan public roads. Florida, Nevada, and...
Dangerous Stretch of I-94, East of Jackson
For years, travelers and others along I-94 in southeastern Michigan have been pushing for construction on the freeway around the intersection of I-94 and Kalmbach road. Going east from Jackson, the freeway makes a hard right, only to immediately turn back. Ideally, it...
Reconsidering the Legal Driving Level of Blood Alcohol Content
A law is currently being considered in the Michigan House of Representatives that would keep the blood alcohol content level at .08 instead of raising it to .1. In 2003, a law was passed which decreased the legal driving level of blood alcohol content (BAC) to .08,...