{"id":7343,"date":"2025-04-17T17:31:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedems.com\/mccann\/?p=7343"},"modified":"2025-04-17T17:33:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T21:33:20","slug":"vulnerable-roadway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.senatedems.com\/mccann\/2025\/04\/17\/vulnerable-roadway\/","title":{"rendered":"Vulnerable Roadway Users Would Be Protected Under Bipartisan Legislation Spearheaded by Sen. McCann"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]
Bills would create enhanced penalties for drivers who injure or kill a vulnerable roadway user, such as cyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair users<\/i><\/div>\n
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LANSING, Mich. (April 17, 2025) \u2013 Today, Sen. Sean McCann <\/b>(D-Kalamazoo) along with Sen. Thomas Albert<\/b> (R-Lowell), Rep. Julie M. Rogers<\/b> (D-Kalamazoo), and Rep. Pauline Wendzel <\/b>(R-Watervliet), reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand the statutory provision that provides enhanced penalties for a moving violation that causes injury to a “vulnerable roadway user.” Senate Bills 216<\/a><\/u><\/span>–217<\/a><\/u><\/span> and House Bills 4334<\/a><\/u><\/span>–4335<\/a><\/u><\/span> would expand protections afforded to vulnerable roadway users including pedestrians, bicyclists, individuals using a wheelchair, U.S. postal workers, and individuals riding or operating a vulnerable transportation device.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many people across Michigan, outdoor recreational activities like cycling represents fitness and fun, however too often tragedy interrupts these hobbies \u2014 resulting in the death or serious injury of a vulnerable roadway user,\u201d Sen. McCann <\/b>said. \u201cIt is well past time Michigan address these types of dangerous behaviors by reckless drivers. These bills afford the necessary tools for law enforcement and prosecutors to address the gap between basic traffic infractions and more serious crimes, like the death or serious injury of a vulnerable roadway user.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBicycling is part of a healthy lifestyle, and I am proud to be from the bike-friendly community of Kalamazoo. As a practicing physical therapist and fellow cyclist, I know just how important movement is to our mental and physical health,\u201d Rep. Rogers <\/b>said. \u201cUnfortunately, Kalamazoo has experienced its share of bicycling-related tragedies. In 2016, nine cyclists were hit by a person driving a truck while riding together near Markin Glen Park. Five of the cyclists were killed, and the other four were seriously injured and hospitalized. We must do more to protect our vulnerable roadway users, and I am proud to be part of this package.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis issue hits close to home for me \u2014 my dad was the victim of a hit-and-run accident,\u201d Rep. Wendzel <\/b>said. \u201cAs more people across Michigan walk, bike, or use other non-motorized ways to get around, it\u2019s critical that our laws keep up and protect everyone on the road. This legislation sends a clear message: reckless drivers will be held accountable, and the safety of vulnerable road users matters. We\u2019re taking a commonsense step to help make our communities safer for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The legislative proposal also includes a comprehensive and simplified update to Michigan\u2019s \u201cmove over\u201d traffic law, requiring motorists to slow down and move over a lane when they encounter any stationary vehicle with flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis change would make Michigan\u2019s \u2018move over\u2019 traffic safety law apply to every situation where a vehicle is pulled over and flashing its warning lights,\u201d said Sen. Albert<\/b>. \u201cIt\u2019s a simple, easy-to-understand approach that would improve safety for everyone who works and drives on our roads.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my perspective as the Interim Executive Director of LMB and a retired law enforcement officer, these new bills \u2014 and soon-to-be laws \u2014 are critically important. While enforcement alone isn’t the sole solution to reducing serious injuries and fatal crashes involving Vulnerable Roadway Users, it remains a vital component,\u201d said Jeff Carek<\/b>, interim Executive Director of the League of Michigan Bicyclists. \u201cThese bills highlight that significance by providing prosecutors with an additional tool to pursue justice. In cases where at-fault drivers might otherwise face minimal consequences, this legislation offers a path to accountability and a measure of peace for victims and their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor far too long, Michigan’s laws have failed to adequately reflect the value of human life when that life is outside the protection of a vehicle,\u201d Director Carek <\/b>added. \u201cThis legislation sends a clear message: if you drive, you have a responsibility to the most vulnerable people around you. It creates accountability, promotes safer driving behavior, and ultimately will save lives. At LMB, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe getting to their destination, no matter their means of travel. These bills are a critical step toward a culture of a shared responsibility on our roads and we strongly urge our Michigan Legislature to pass them without delay.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the most recent data available released by the Michigan State Police, while traffic crashes and fatalities fell in 2023, crashes involving vulnerable roadway users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, increased by at least 10%. There were 114 pedestrian-involved crashes and 183 deaths in 2023, while there were 1,480 bicycle-involved crashes and 24 deaths during the same time period.<\/div>\n

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Bills would create enhanced penalties for drivers who injure or kill a vulnerable roadway user, such as cyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair users LANSING, Mich. (April 17, 2025) \u2013 Today, Sen. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\nVulnerable Roadway Users Would Be Protected Under Bipartisan Legislation Spearheaded by Sen. McCann - Senator Sean McCann<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vulnerable Roadway Users Would Be Protected Under Bipartisan Legislation Spearheaded by Sen. 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