Detroit police are stepping up traffic enforcement on Gratiot Avenue this week after a series of deadly crashes on the busy east side corridor.
The department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit held operations Tuesday and again today, targeting drivers who are speeding and driving recklessly.
Captain Sederick Dunbar with the Detroit Police Metropolitan Division said recent tragedies show why the focus is necessary.
In the past two months alone, at least four people have died in crashes along Gratiot.
“It is a very hot spot in the city of Detroit for accidents,” Dunbar said. “This may come to a shock to some, but the speed limit on Gratiot isn’t 70 miles per hour. The speed limit on Gratiot is 35 miles per hour, and it’s that way for a reason.”
The traffic enforcement unit, which includes 15 to 20 officers, has been stationed along the corridor throughout the day.
“The family that lost an individual is impacted forever. The individual responsible is impacted forever. And as we saw last week, the business, the new business on the corner of Gratiot and St. Aubin is also impacted. So it’s very important that we are out there proactively trying to change driver behavior,” Dunbar said.
His message to drivers is simple: “Slow down, please. Saving people’s lives, potentially saving your life. So slow down, just be mindful of the speed limit on these major streets and be mindful of the level, the amount of pedestrians, the amount of traffic, the amount of businesses, people coming and going to school, getting off of public transportation.”
List of recent crashes:
• July 30: One woman and one man died at Gratiot and French
• August 23: Two children died at 7 Mile and Gratiot
• September 6: One woman died on Gratiot Avenue near St. Aubin
• September 9: One man died on Gratiot near 6 Mile.
