SPEED LIMIT ESTABLISHMENT; AMEND H.B. 4012:

SUMMARY OF BILL

REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Bill 4012 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Representative Bradley Slagh

House Committee: Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure

Senate Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to modify the requirements for establishing modified speed limits on portions of highways as follows:

 

--    Require a modified speed limit to be determined by traffic engineering practices that provided an objective analysis of characteristics of the highway and by the eighty-fifth percentile speed of free-flowing traffic under ideal conditions on the fastest portion of the highway segment for which the speed limit was being modified.

--    Require a modified speed limit to be in multiples of five miles per hour and rounded to a multiple that was within five miles per hour of the eighty-fifth percentile speed.

--    Allow a modified speed limit to be set lower than the eighty-fifth percentile if an engineering and safety study demonstrated a situation with hazards to public safety that were not reflected by the eighty-fifth percentile speed but not lower than the fiftieth percentile speed.

 

MCL 257.628

 

BRIEF RATIONALE

 

Currently, speed limits are set based on the results of an engineering and safety study and by the eighty-fifth percentile speed of flee-flowing traffic on the fastest portion of the highway, rounded to the nearest multiple of five miles per hour. Some allege that these provisions impose high speed limits on communities unsuited for them, contributing to dangerous road conditions. For example, testimony before the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure indicated that engineering and safety studies may focus more on metrics than other factors, such as pedestrian safety. Accordingly, it has been suggested that the way Michigan modifies speed limits be amended to offer flexibility for communities.

 

Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

 

Date Completed: 2-21-24 Fiscal Analyst: Bobby Canell

Bruce R. Baker

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.