Law enforcement will increase road patrols this month in an effort to reduce speeding and other risky behavior, including impaired driving.

The effort includes the state police and  local agencies and will be paid for by federal highway safety funds.

Speeders ticketed in construction zones face double fines and fees. Drivers who crash in a construction zone and kill or injure a road  worker face fines of up to $7,500 and 15 years in jail.

Katie Bower, Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning director, said the goal is to help save lives.

“Each speeding vehicle is a potential catalyst for tragedy, adding to the grim tally of preventable fatalities and crashes each year,” Bower said. “It is our hope this speed enforcement period will help lessen the impact of dangerous, impatient drivers this summer.”

In addition to risking the lives of drivers and passengers, aggressive and reckless driving contributes to deaths and injuries to pedestrians and bicyclists. From 2020 to 2022, 103 bicyclists were killed in Michigan, an increase of 64% over the previous three-year period when 63 were killed, according to state crash statistics.

Speeding caused 26,700 crashes on Michigan roads in 2022 – an 8.7% increase over the 24,555 speed-related crashes in 2021. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures show 87% of all speeding-related fatalities in 2022 happened on non-interstate roads.

“While some people may focus on fines for speeding, the biggest issues are how many lives are put at risk because of speeding and how many crashes could be avoided if drivers simply slowed down,” Bower said.

An analysis of 2022 statistics by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute of shows speeding crashes involved

•  13.2% of unrestrained drivers.

•  10.6% of drivers aged 15 to 20.

•  14.3% of motorcyclists.

“We are in the busy, warm-weather season with many families driving to their favorite summer destinations,” Bower said. “Unfortunately, there will be drivers who put everyone at risk by speeding and driving recklessly, making crashes more likely.”

Each speeding ticket carries more than fines and court fees. Points are added and remain on a driver’s record for two years and can result in increased car insurance premiums.