The accidents would indicate that "reasonable" speeds are not being used. If the posted speed was lowered atleast law enforcement could issue tickets. Once word is out that lower speeds are being enforced people may then become more "reasonable".

That assumes that speeding is a factor in the accidents. We study crash data closlely and have not seen this. In fact, since the state law was changed requiriing higher speed limits on most roads, we have not seen any increase in crashes. In some cases we have actually seen a decrease. Again, the data suggests that the speed people are driving has not changed. Also, the current state law does not allow for changes to the speed limit.

Road Commission for Oakland County

Law enforcement in this area are fully aware of the problem and agree. I am saving my own "data"...all the contacts and emails I have written about this issue. When someone is badly injured or killed which will inevitably happen in this area I will be sure to share my "data" so that they can take legal action because an obvious hazard has been ignored.

Again, state law is very clear. We cannot adjust the speed limit on gravel roads from what is prescribed in state law. We do not have authority to supercede state law.

Road Commission for Oakland County

Once again a roll over accident has occurred on this section of Mead Road. This is the second accident in a couple of months, in a long history of accidents in this section of the road. And yet, ignoring the issue seems to be the protocol. This is negligence. Posted speeds should be a maximum of 35 mph under perfect conditions.

02/14/2020 another accident on same small stretch of Mead road, car driving at a high rate of speed on dirt road and lost control. Car hit tree. Car totaled. Blind hill and high embankments on either side of road make posted lower speeds necessary. These issues continue to be TOTALY ignored putting families in the area and community at risk.

DirtRoad: We share your concern about safety on this and all roads -- in fact that is our top priority. However, if this driver was truly driving at a high rate of speed and lost control, they were probably already in violation of the law. As noted previously, state law does not give us the authority to set speed limits on gravel roads lower than that prescribed in the state law (which is what determined the current speed limit on that and all gravel roads in Oakland County). Additionally, state law already says that drivers must drive at a speed that is safe and appropriate for conditions. Finally, numerous studies have suggested that simply posting a lower speed limit has virtually no impact on the actual speed that motorists travel. They will drive at the speed at which they feel comfortable regardless of posted speeds. That is why the Michigan State Police pushed so hard to change state law to require increased speed limits on most gravel roads (since most drivers were not traveling at the artificially low speeds posted on many gravel roads). Thank you.
- Road Commission for Oakland County

Thank you for your response.
Yes, of course the Road Commission is unable to do anything, that’s nothing new.
In an area of road, about the length of a football field there have been at least 7 accidents, 3 of them were roll overs with serious injuries. The road is very narrow, there is a blind hill, and there are embankments on both sides. Law enforcement is well aware of the area.
At least some additional signage is called for to have drivers SLOW DOWN as they approach the hill, but that would require the Road Commission to get from behind their desks to do a survey of the area and perhaps review the accidents that have occurred on this stretch of road before a citizen dies. That would require work, and apparently that also goes beyond what the Road Commission is capable of in this case.

Will share with appropriate staff to review.

I have read that comment before from OCRC when talking about the lights at Rain Tree and Adams. Nothing was ever done there and the intersection is still a traffic hazard.

Road Commission Representative,

I appreciate your response indicating that these concerns will be shared with the appropriate staff. I have been conveying my concerns for 8 years regarding this matter. The accidents compile, people continue to get injured, and property is damaged. I will be attentive to your response, but I won’t be holding my breath. 8 years of inattentiveness by your department, while citizens continue to be injured indicates how things operate.