Driving In Detroit
Driving in a city that you're not familiar with can be a nerve-racking experience! It can be hard enough just navigating around Detroit, never mind the driving laws and speed limits, without even thinking about the fact that you might be on the wrong side of the road if you're an international visitor.
DetroitCarRental.net are here to make sure your time spent in Detroit is remembered for all the right reasons. So, to help customers on vacation in our city, we've put together a guide to driving in Detroit and throughout Michigan using our local knowledge of what to expect from the drivers here and information about state laws in Michigan.
Things To Remember When You Drive In Detroit
Here are a few tips for safe driving in Detroit:
Mobile Phone law
Inside Detroit the law says that the use of mobile phone without having a hands-free attached to it represents an infraction. The fines start from $100 and can go up to $300 if you do the same thing again. However, if you’re planning to leave Detroit it is good to mention that on the entire Michigan area there are no specific rules which force drivers not to use their mobile devices. But since they distract you attention so much, we strongly recommend you not to use the cellphone or any other device while driving because you risk your life for nothing.
Speed Limits
Because Detroit is such a big city the local authorities decided to set lower speed limits than in many other cities around America. Inside Detroit the limit is set to 25mph (40km/h). On certain roads you might be allowed to drive with up to 30mph (48km/h); these roads are marked with an indicator, so keep focusing on the road. In rural areas around Detroit the limit is 55mph (88 km/h). On highways and freeways you are allowed to accelerate up to 70mph (112 km/h). Please note that if you exceed the limit with more than 10 mph (16km/h) you can receive fines up to $300. If you go over the limit with more than 20mph (32km/h) your driving privilege will be removed for 90 days.
Seatbelt law
In Michigan it is mandatory to wear the seatbelt as a driver and as a front seat passenger. However, the passengers in the back seats are not required to wear the seatbelt. All teenagers under the age of 16 are required to use the seatbelt, no matter if they sit in the front or in the back seats. All children under the age of 8 who are shorter than 4.9 feet (1.45 meters) need to be transported in a child safety seat. If you can’t wear the seatbelt due to a medical problem it is required to have the doctor’s statement.
Drinking law
Anyone who has a higher blood alcohol concentration than 0.08% it is considered to be above the law and risks of losing his/her driving privilege for at least 90 days. Drivers under 21 years old it is considered illegal to have the blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.02%. It is also illegal to carry any alcohol if not accompanied by an adult. It is also illegal to drive under the influence of drugs. By not taking the drug test if the officer asks you this thing, you risk to be imprisoned for up to 180 days. It is always a good idea not to drink before you get behind the wheels.
Tips for a safe drive
The first thing you need to realize is that not all the drivers are respecting the law and sometimes you need to do unexpected things in order to avoid a crash. It is always a good idea to drive defensively. Don’t let things like radio, GPS, mobile phone or other device to distract your attention. Don’t drive if you are extremely tired. You might easily fall asleep without realizing. Make sure you have good visibility; clean the windshield and all the windows. Park your car only in specially designed places; don’t park on dark alleys or in other places like this because you can have a nasty surprise.
