MDOT Opens North End Installing Temporary Traffic Signal on M-40

Commuting during peak travel times along I-275 in Wayne County just got easier with the opening of all travel lanes on the north end of the project. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is removing northbound lane restrictions north of Joy Road, while southbound lane closures now begin at Ann Arbor Road. All work on this $23.5 million project is expected to be completed in November. The project includes repairing 34 bridges between Hannan Road in Van Buren Township and 6 Mile Road near Northville Township. Work also involves resurfacing both directions of I-275 between Hannan and Ford roads. While the north end of the project is opening two weeks ahead of schedule, work to the bridges at Ann Arbor Trail, Ann Arbor Road and 6 Mile Road will continue, but with lane closures scheduled during off-peak hours. MDOT reminds motorists that a separate project to repair northbound I-275 at Nine Mile Road in Oakland County still has work remaining; however, that work is restricted to weekends continue

Overall, deaths resulting from alcohol and/or drug-related crashes decreased by 10.6 percent, from 357 in 2010 to 319 in 2011, while injuries fell from 6,175 to 6,086. Drug involvement in traffic fatalities fell almost 17 percent, from 153 deaths in 2010 to 127 in 2011, while alcohol involvement declined 3 percent, from 283 to 274. In many cases, deaths involved both alcohol and drugs and are counted in each category. Prior to 2011′s decrease, drug-involved traffic fatalities had increased by nearly 30 percent over the past five years. As part of an effort to address this issue, Michigan trained 15 Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) last year. DREs are trained to recognize signs of impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol and to identify the category or categories of drugs causing the impairment. A second group of 13 officers completed training in 2012, and a third class is planned for 2013. Drug-involved deaths and injuries have been increasing across the country,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP). “Officers in Michigan will continue

In response to requests from the public, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has installed a temporary traffic signal on M-40 at northbound I-196 in Holland. The signal is expected to be operational today. MDOT began the $11.5 million project in June to reconstruct 9 miles of northbound I-196 from 130th Avenue to US-31 in Allegan County. The project requires closing the exits at Blue Star Highway and northbound US-31. A detour has been established at M-40 in Holland, but high traffic volumes led to unanticipated congestion on the northbound I-196 interchange at M-40. “The decision to install a temporary signal was made after motorists expressed their concerns about congestion at M-40,” said Michelle O’Neill, MDOT traffic operations engineer at the Kalamazoo Transportation Service Center. “Our staff did traffic counts and discovered traffic volumes at that interchange were much higher than anticipated, so a temporary signal was warranted for the duration of this project.” The temporary signal will improve traffic flow and safety and remain active continue

http://www.ezdrivingtest.com/blog/2012/07/19/mdot-opens-north-end-installing-temporary-traffic-signal-on-m-40-19july2012/

Driver’s License Checkpoint Leads To Arrest

A total of 10 people were arrested during a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint in Fontana on June 9, according to the Fontana Police Department. The checkpoint was located on Valley Boulevard at Catawba Avenue between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. As a result of this operation, seven arrests were made for driving under the influence, one of which was drug related. Additional arrests were made for identity theft and resisting arrest, and one person was arrested for having an outstanding DUI warrant. see more

Concord Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on May 19, 2012 at Monument Boulevard near Erickson Road within the city limits between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. DUI checkpoints are a proven enforcement tool effective in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes. Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough. Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will check for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000. “Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed 9 lives and resulted in 116 injury crashes harming 182 of our friends and neighbors,” said Traffic Sergeant John Nunes. see more

Several police departments announced they will crack down on drunken driving this weekend with sobriety checkpoints and a saturation patrol. Kansas City, Shawnee and Independence police said they will conduct the special enforcement efforts. Kansas City police will run a checkpoint sometime this weekend at a location known for alcohol related crashes or arrests. Independence police said the traffic safety unit will run both a checkpoint and saturation patrol on Friday in an area where drunken driving arrests and crashes are prevalent. see more

A driver’s license checkpoint conducted by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of a man wanted in five counties last week. Deputies with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a driver’s license checkpoint Thursday in the 12000 block of Old U.S. Highway 52 when they came in contact with 43-year-old Charles Michael Story. Story, of 1100 National Highway, Thomasville, was operating a motor vehicle while his license was revoked, according to a sheriff’s office news release. Deputies searched Story’s background and found he had several outstanding warrants from surrounding counties for his arrest. Deputies alleged they also found Story in possession of several narcotics consisting of Hydrocodone pills, Adderall pills, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. see more

http://www.ezdrivingtest.com/blog/2012/06/10/drivers-license-checkpoint-leads-to-arrest11june2012/

Talking Cars and Road Safety

The government is launching a year-long, real-world test of systems that keep cars from crashing into each other in Michigan this summer. It’s going to involve nearly 3,000 cars, trucks and buses using volunteer drivers, the Associated Press reports. All the vehicles are going to electronically talk to each other to avoid accidents. The vehicles will be equipped to continuously communicate over wireless networks, exchanging information on location, direction and speed 10 times a second with other similarly equipped cars within about 1,000 feet, the AP says. A computer analyzes the information and issues danger warnings to drivers, often before they can see the other vehicle. The systems have been under development by several automakers over the past few years. They can either warn drivers that another vehicle is about cut in front of them or has suddenly stopped, or they can be tied to automatic system to brake cars to avoid collisions.  more

A few months ago in Hernando County, Florida, Greg Hamilton waited at a stoplight on State Road 50. When the light turned green, and with the intersection seemingly clear, he proceeded forward in his Toyota Camry. All of a sudden, BAM! From seemingly out of nowhere, a late-model Cadillac sped through the red light, smashing Hamilton’s car. The 76-year-old driver was sober; he simply hadn’t realized that he was approaching a red light. For that bit of human error, Hamilton paid a horrific price. At the hospital, he was treated for six broken ribs, several herniated discs, a separated shoulder, and a punctured lung. Realizing that more than 90 percent of auto accidents are caused by human error, engineers have long tried to shift the onus of safety responsibility to the vehicles themselves. Now, Ford and other major automakers are working to put “intelligent vehicles”–those that can communicate with one another–on the road. Such cars and trucks, NHTSA claims, could potentially reduce the number of light-vehicle crashes–at least those involving unimpaired drivers– by 80 percent. more

A Ford Taurus was seconds away from cruising through an intersection when suddenly a row of red lights pulsed on the lower windshield and a warning blared that another car was approaching fast on the cross street. Braking quickly, the driver stopped just as the second car, previously unseen behind a large parked truck, barreled through a red light and across the Ford’s path. The display at a recent transportation conference was a peek into the future of automotive safety: cars that talk to each other and warn drivers of impending collisions. more

As a safety demonstration, it was a heart-stopper: A Ford Taurus was seconds away from cruising through an intersection when suddenly a row of red lights pulsed on the lower windshield and a warning blared that another car was approaching fast on the cross street. Braking quickly, the driver stopped just as the second car, previously unseen behind a large parked truck, barrelled through a red light and across the Ford’s path. The display at a recent transportation conference was a peek into the future of automotive safety: cars that talk to each other and warn drivers of impending collisions. more

http://www.ezdrivingtest.com/blog/2012/06/10/talking-cars-and-road-safety10june2012/

Woods Agent Mark Steinberg Loses Driving License

Mark Steinberg, the agent for golfer Tiger Woods, had his license revoked when he was arraigned on charges related to a drunken driving arrest on June 2. Steinberg, 44, was arraigned yesterday on aggravated driving while intoxicated and DWI charges in Ardsley Village Justice Court in Ardsley, New York, Patricia Basini, the court clerk, said in a telephone interview. His license was revoked and he is due to appear back in court on Jan. 25. Steinberg had blood-alcohol content higher than 0.18, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 in New York state, when he was one of 11 people arrested on June 2 by police at a sobriety checkpoint off the New York State Thruway, according to the Ardsley Police Department. Steinberg said in an e-mail that followed his arrest that “It’s a medical issue that I was dealing with. It’s not what you think.” Steinberg is being represented by more

The Nebraska Court of Appeals revoked the driver’s license of a man accused of drunken driving on Tuesday, siding with the Department of Motor Vehicles after a lower court ruled a department hearing officer unfairly revoked the license. Joshua Stone had a Nebraska driver’s license in February 2011 when police found him asleep behind the wheel of a running but parked car. Officers said Stone had an open beer in the car and appeared to be drunk, but Stone refused to be tested for intoxication. He was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. A Sarpy County judge reversed the revocation, noting that the DMV report saying there was enough evidence to revoke Stone’s license was signed a day before Stone’s hearing. The judge said that led him to believe that the hearing officer decided the case before she heard any evidence. Nebraska Court of more

Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Justin Blackmon appeared in an Oklahoma courtroom Monday for the first time since his weekend arrest for suspicion of drunken driving. The former Oklahoma State star wide receiver’s attorney entered a not guilty plea for him to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Blackmon was allowed to remain free on $1,000 bond. Police arrested Blackmon during a traffic stop in Stillwater early Sunday after a breath test allegedly showed his blood alcohol content to be three times the legal limit. Blackmon left the courtroom surrounded by friends. His attorney, Cheryl Ramsey, declined to comment. The Jaguars selected Blackmon fifth overall in April’s draft. A team spokesman said Sunday that the Jaguars were trying to learn more about the arrest more

http://www.ezdrivingtest.com/blog/2012/06/06/woods-agent-mark-steinberg-loses-driving-license-06june2012/

Michigan Department of Transportation will be reconstructing a portion of M-100 between Franklin Street and Taylor Street, along with installing new sanitary sewer, water main and storm sewer, replacing driveway approaches, and upgrading sidewalk ramps and sections of sidewalks. The city of Grand Ledge also will be constructing a non-motorized walkway along M-100 (Clinton Street) between M-43 and Franklin Street. Construction is scheduled to begin in early May and be complete by late October. Public meeting hosted by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)readmore……

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will host a public meeting to present construction plans for the US-2 reconstruction project in Iron River this year, as well as detour route details. Residents will have an opportunity to review project plans and meet one-on-one with MDOT and contractor representatives on specific questions and concerns. During construction, the city is upgrading portions of its water main and sanitary sewer system. Phone lines, a gas main, power poles and street lighting also will be upgraded. Utility work is scheduled readmore…..

While the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities in road construction work zone crashes in Michigan were down from the year before, 2011 statistics released today by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) indicate that workers, motorists and their passengers are still at risk. MDOT’s 2012 public awareness campaign will include a 60-second public service announcement (PSA) on Michigan Radio Network affiliate stations throughout the state. For a detailed chart on MDOT’s work zone  readmore….

A motorist is making his morning trip to the office. As he turns east, the sun glare temporarily blinds him. Struggling to see, he reaches for his sunglasses and notices what appear to be brake lights on the vehicle in front of him. Hitting the brakes, it takes a couple nerve-wracking moments for him to realize nothing tragic happened, and he safely makes his way to work. Because the sun rises and sets closer to the horizon and almost exactly east and west in the  readmore…..

http://www.ezdrivingtest.com/blog/2012/04/24/michigan-department-of-transportation-25april2012/