Posted on Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 2:50 p.m.
Traffic study shows Dexter drivers exceeding speed limits
By Kody Klein
A study of traffic through the Village of Dexter showed that most motorists drive an average of 5 miles per hour over the speed limit, reported the Dexter Leader.
After reviewing the study, village council members urged residents to slow down to avoid accidents.
The village sent the study's results to the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and requested the office increase patrol of problem areas.
Kody Klein is an intern for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at kklein@mlive.com
Comments
C.C. Ingersoll
Thu, Feb 28, 2013 : 1:45 a.m.
Slow down, PLEASE. I just can't fathom the glee of the speeders responding to this article like it's no big deal at all. https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/2011PedestrianRiskVsSpeed.pdf From page 1: "The average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph, and 90% at 58 mph. Risks vary significantly by age. For example, the average risk of severe injury or death for a 70?year?old pedestrian struck by a car traveling at 25 mph is similar to the risk for a 30? year?old pedestrian struck at 35 mph."
Hot Sam
Thu, Feb 28, 2013 : 1:27 a.m.
I don't know how much they paid for this "study", but for dinner at Terry B's I could've told them the same thing...
dancinginmysoul
Thu, Feb 28, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.
In more cases then not studies such as this, which may seem frivolous or wasting resources, are required to inact some kind of change. It's redundant, but in order to prove something needs to be change have to actually show why. This is usually done through research.
DennisP
Thu, Feb 28, 2013 : 12:17 a.m.
If you read the original article, it seems the study was based largely on one of those radar speed loggers put up on Ryan Road entering into the Huron Farms subdivision past the Busch supermarket. That's the residential subdivision hit by the Tornado last March. I'd say that 25 mph is the proper speed limit there entering into the sub. However, it is quite a stretch to declare that all drivers in Dexter average more than 5 mph over the speed limit based on this very limited and specific study. Seems overreaching to me.
Reverend Bubba X
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 11:56 p.m.
Have the spped limits in Dexter been set in accordance with Mihcigan law? They seem rather low through some parts of town. Many of Ann Arbor's speed limits are lower than permitted under state law.
Billy
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 11:51 p.m.
Isn't there a new state law that REQUIRES speed limits on roads be based on the average speed of traffic on that road...NOT some arbitrary reason like "slower is safer?" Wouldn't this actually mean that the speed limit needs to be increased....not try to hand out more tickets?
Mr. Ed
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 11:24 p.m.
Maybe the spped limits are too low.
foobar417
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 10:35 p.m.
Must be the fault of reckless cyclists.
GoNavy
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 10:27 p.m.
Drivers instinctively get speeds right. If - on average - Dexter drivers are driving 5 mph over, I am inclined to believe that Dexters speed limits are 5 mph too low.
This Post Doesn't Have A Name
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 10:15 p.m.
When you gotta go, you gotta go.
motorcycleminer
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 10:06 p.m.
Gee drivers exceeding the speed limit..who-da-thunk...
Sue
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 9:11 p.m.
Great! they found me out! LOL
WalkingJoe
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:56 p.m.
Gee, I wish drivers going down my street here in Pittsfield were only going 5 mph over the speed limit.
Urban Sombrero
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:44 p.m.
So then, is this a problem with people speeding? Or a problem that stems from speed limits that are abnormally low? Honest question.
Reverend Bubba X
Thu, Feb 28, 2013 : 1:09 a.m.
They are rather low.
peterplywood
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.
Yes indeed Sombrero, the speed limits are a bit to low.....30-35 mph would be ok!
ArthGuinness
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:43 p.m.
If I was a Dexter resident I would demand to know how much was spent on this study, and then I would make sure nobody who approved it was re-elected.
aabikes
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:40 p.m.
5 mph is a big difference when you get hit while on foot or on a bicycle. Slow down please. Every 5mph faster the car is going, you have 20% higher chance of being killed. And yes this is at LOW speeds. 25 to 30, 30 to 35. http://humantransport.org/sidewalks/SpeedKills.htm
aabikes
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 11:19 p.m.
yes. Under 15mph and 30 lbs. We're talking about 25mph+ and 3,000lbs. Have you ever been hit by a car? Are you honestly even trying to compare the two???
justcurious
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 10:03 p.m.
Ever been hit by a speeding bike? Or one that just ran the stop sign or the red light?
1bit
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:40 p.m.
I'd recommend reading the original article. A more fair way to state the headline would have been: Over 87% of drivers are within 5mph of the 25mph speed limit in Dexter.. Of those going over the speed limit, over 80% did not exceed 30mph. This is the most telling exchange in the article: "Keough asked Village Manager Donna Dettling what could be done about the motorists flouting the posted speed limit by only 5 mph, to which she replied that the sheriff's deputies don't typically write tickets for 1-5 mph over. WCSO Sgt. Keith Flores reiterated Dettling's assessment Tuesday morning: "We can ticket for one mile over … do we? No.""
Brad
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:49 p.m.
Thanks, @1bit for some real statistics. I hope they didn't pay a lot for their "study".
Bertha Venation
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:29 p.m.
The village seems larger when you follow the speed limit. Guess I'll haveta throw the ol' Hoveround into low gear until after I hit the A&W.
Top Cat
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:19 p.m.
The problem is not Dexter drivers but those drivers from Chelsea and Ann Arbor that are treating Dexter roads like the Indy 500.
Reverend Bubba X
Thu, Feb 28, 2013 : 1:07 a.m.
Outside agitators!
noyfb
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 11:25 p.m.
Move!
WalkingJoe
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:58 p.m.
Sorry but when I drive to Chelsea and then back again I take I-94 and don't go though Dexter.
zanzerbar
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:25 p.m.
Yep, just passing thru, nothing to see here.
deletedcomment
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:11 p.m.
A 16 year old with a brand new license knows everyone tends to drive 5 mph over and the council needed a 'study' to tell them this? Common sense and logic, Dexter council has neither.
Greg
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:09 p.m.
No real shock here. How else do you expect people to keep up with the hustle and bustle of Dexter living?
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 8:06 p.m.
huh? I thought 5 over was the starting point.
Anna
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 9:39 p.m.
Or the minimum if you're on 696, 96, or 94, or...