Speeding is no big deal, right? Everyone does it, right? And what real harm does it cause?

Actually, pushing that pedal down can be dangerous for more than just the driver, state law enforcement officials warn.

Speeding is far from just a violation of traffic laws. Aggressive driving not only puts drivers and passengers at risk, it can affect the lives of all roadway users, including pedestrians and bicyclists.

So the Michigan State Police, along with city and county police departments across the state, will be conducting dedicated speed enforcement throughout July, the MSP states in a news release.

Data indicates that speed enforcement and public education efforts are yielding positive results in Michigan, according to the MSP.

The state in 2023 recorded 21,357 speed-involved crashes, reflecting a 20% decrease from the 26,700 speed-involved crashes reported in 2022 — and a 32% decrease from the 31,421 crashes in 2019, MSP said, citing the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

“Some may fixate on the cost of a ticket, but the real concerns are the number of lives put in danger and the countless crashes that could be prevented if drivers chose to slow down,” said Alicia Sledge, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. “While we are encouraged by the progress shown in the data, we hope that this dedicated speed-enforcement effort will help curb the reckless behavior of hurried drivers this summer.”

A review of speed-involved data in Michigan in 2023 found —

— Single motor vehicle crashes accounted for 72.2% of all speed-involved crashes;

— Excessive speed was a factor in 210 fatalities, or 19.2%, and 6,848 injuries, or 9.6%, in motor vehicle crashes; and

— The 210 speed-involved fatalities were a 5.8% decrease from the 223 fatalities in 2022.

“Even though speed-related crashes and fatalities are down, there are still too many drivers who put everyone at risk by speeding and driving recklessly,” Sledge said. “We are asking every Michigander to make an effort this summer to slow down.”

In Michigan, the July speed enforcement campaign is supported with federal traffic safety funds provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the OHSP.

For more information about speeding and the July speed enforcement, go to OHSP’s speeding page at https://www.michigan.gov/msp/divisions/ohsp/safety-programs/speeding?sc_site=msp.