MDOT and Michigan Fitness Foundation remind us to be alert and safe as clocks 'fall back' on Sunday

LANSING, Mich. - Asthe clocks "fall back" to standard time on Sunday, Nov. 3, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Fitness Foundation reminds motorists to watch out for people traveling on foot or rolling, like on a bicycle, wheelchair, skateboard or other personal device, each evening on the drive home. Motorists also should allow a minimum 3-foot distance when passing a bicyclist, according to state law.

"Road users need to be alert and eliminate distractions, slow down and fully focus on getting to their destination safely. People traveling on foot or rolling are encouraged to wear brighter-colored clothing with reflective material to enhance visibility," said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich. "As a reminder, a distracted driving law was enacted last year making it illegal to manually use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle on Michigan roads. Under the law, a driver cannot hold or support a phone or other device with any part of their hands, arms or shoulders."

Research from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute confirms that pedestrians are more at risk of serious injury from a motor vehicle crash in the weeks following a return to standard time. The most dangerous time is the first hour of darkness.

Working with schools and communities across the state, the Michigan Fitness Foundation's Safe Routes to School program staff provide best practices that help communities identify and overcome safety barriers in order to make it safe for children to walk and bike to school.

"We encourage motorists to reduce their speed, obey all signs and traffic signals and be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists, especially right before and after school," said Michigan Fitness Foundation President and CEO Amy Ghannam. "By working with MDOT on the Safe Routes to School program, the Michigan Fitness Foundation assists local communities to develop projects that increase connectivity and safety for students when they walk and roll to school."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,522 pedestrians and 1,105 pedalcyclists (bicyclists and riders of two-wheel, nonmotorized vehicles, tricycles and unicycles powered solely by pedals) died in traffic crashes in 2022. In Michigan, 2,224 pedestrians were involved in crashes, resulting in 183 killed and 1,743 injured, according to the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (MTCF) for 2023. Bicycle crashes accounted for 24 killed and 1,126 injured in the same MTCF 2023 report. Most pedestrian-involved crashes occurred from 6 to 6:59 p.m., with 153 (7.2 percent). The peak hour for bicyclist involvement in crashes was from 4 to 4:59 p.m., with 151 bicyclists involved. The peak hour for bicyclist fatalities was from 6 to 6:59 p.m., with four bicyclist fatalities.

MDOT continues to work with partners statewide on the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) safety campaign based on the National Strategy on Highway Safety, which is intended to influence driver behavior and improve safety. For more information on the TZD campaign, visit www.Michigan.gov/ZeroDeaths.

MDOT and the League of Michigan Bicyclists have more information available online about pedestrian and bicycle safety.