Fatal crashes lead to Detroit dangerous driving crackdown; 375 tickets issued during first blitz

Detroit police boost traffic patrols after deadly crashes

Officers in Detroit's 12th Precinct are beefing up traffic patrols in an effort to stop crashes due to dangerous driving. The effort comes after an audit found that the area alone had five fatal crashes in 2024.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Dangerous driving and deadly crashes have Detroit police cracking down on traffic offenses.

Philip Rodriguez, the captain of the Detroit Police Department's 12th Precinct, ordered extra patrols after analyzing 2024's crash data and seeing just how bad it was in his area. The 12th Precinct encompasses an area south of Eight Mile between Greenfield and I-75.

The backstory:

"I did an audit last year and found that there were over 1,800 accidents in the 12th Precinct. Five of those were fatal," Rodriguez said. "Seven Mile is typically your ‘raceway'."

One of those crashes involved the death of a 1-year-old girl who was hit by a vehicle while walking outside her home last summer.

Crashes like that one and others in the precinct led to a crackdown last Friday.

It wasn't just about crashes, either. Rodriquez said officers were zeroing in on aggressive driving in an effort to prevent road rage incidents.

By the numbers:

During Friday's blitz, officers made 217 stops and issued 375 tickets.

They also made six felony arrests and 18 misdemeanor arrests. Rodriquez said felony offenses included people driving stolen vehicles, drug possession, and people carrying guns illegally, among other crimes.

"The guns that you take off the street that are being carried illegally will save someone's life," he said.

What's next:

Officers in the 12th Precinct plan to have increased traffic patrols out twice a month until April. The next crackdown is planned for Feb. 11.

Eventually, Rodriquez wants to get neighboring cities in on the enforcement efforts.

"A joint operation where we can show unity, and that yes, you're across Eight Mile, but you're still going to be held accountable for your actions south of Eight Mile," he said.

Big picture view:

In addition to the latest effort to stop dangerous driving in Detroit, the city has been working to make streets safer for years.

The city has installed more than 10,000 speed humps on residential streets since 2016. More than 22,000 requests for speed humps have been received, according to the Department of Public Works.

Request a speed hump on your street.

The Source: FOX 2 interviewed Detroit Police Capt. Philip Rodriguez for this story. Information from the city's Department of Public Works was also used to report this story.