Jul. 26—TRAVERSE CITY — In the midst of the summer tourist season, with traffic jams and irate motorists galore, it may seem like crashes triggered by aggressive driving would be on the rise in the region.
Not so — if last year’s numbers are any indication.
Aggression on the road can take many forms, but crashes where aggressive driving was a factor were down slightly last year compared to previous years, statistics show.
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute’s Michigan Traffic Crash Facts website reported nearly 1,000 fewer crashes in 2023 where aggressive driving was a factor in the Northern Lower Michigan region.
Even so, those statistics also show that aggressive driving is a significant contributor to collisions here.
Last year, more than 30% of the 6,631 reported crashes in the Grand Traverse County region for 2023 were at least partially attributed to aggressive driving, statistics showed.
Traverse City accounted for 29.9%, or 610, of the county’s 2,040 aggressive driving crashes in 2023. And Garfield Township contributed slightly more — nearly 32% — or 646, of the total.
Speeding, failing to yield, improper passing, improper lane use, reckless driving, careless/negligent driving, disregarding traffic control, and tailgating all are included in these statistics, officers said.
“Be mindful of those traffic laws. That’s what makes it safe as possible on the road,” said Capt. Chris Clark of the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office.
While following laws, such as not exceeding the posted speed limit and using turn signals, are straightforward, gauging the safest driving distance between vehicles can be difficult, he said.
Factors such as a vehicle’s weight and speed, as well as road conditions, weather conditions, and traffic volumes, all affect the assured clear distance that drivers need to allow to ensure they can stop in time.
And those variables can constantly change, making it more difficult to establish a standard safe distance.
“You can’t say 30 feet is a safe distance because, if you’re going 55 miles per hour, that may not be the safe distance when you try to stop,” Clark said. “So if 50 feet … is the safe distance, well, if the roads are icy, it’s not the same distance.”
It’s not only important to think about distance during inclement weather, but also during high-traffic times, such as during rush hour and summer festivals, Clark pointed out.
“You’ve always got to be mindful to keep that safe distance between the vehicle in front of you,” he said.
Despite the need to allow a safe distance between vehicles, tailgating is common. One aggressive-driving incident on July 7 on South Airport Road started with tailgating then quickly escalated into a melee that received a lot of public attention.
Two men and a pregnant woman ended up in a fistfight in the middle of that busy roadway, resulting in injuries to one of the men and the woman. The other man was arrested on two counts of assault.
Police confirmed this case would fit under the definition of what people call “road rage.” But, in their reports, the sheriff’s office classifies aggressive driving or road rage under more specific terms. In this case, it was classified as an assault.
Multiple witnesses of that July 7 incident reported the fight and shared video footage of it on social media. These videos can end up being submitted as evidence in court, if it’s useful and appropriate, said Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Lt. Roy Raska.
But witnesses to these situations need to be mindful of the risks they’re running when they start using their phones to take photos or video at scenes like this one, he said.
“If they choose to render aid to someone, that would be for first aid or medical attention, is a decision they need to make on their own,” Clark said, adding, “I think that it’s probably not wise to get out in the middle of the road and start filming three individuals fighting.”
Kathryn DePauw is a Report For America corps member.
Source Agencies
