Area motorists traveling M-15 may want to pay extra attention when crossing two key area intersections.
According to a report issued by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) late last year, the highest number of crashes in Brandon Township were reported at the intersection of M-15 and Seymour Lake Road, leading the township with 44 crashes.
In Groveland Township, the highest number of crashes were at Oakwood and Ortonville roads, where 46 crashes occurred. The crash study incorporates five years of data.
SEMCOG is a membership organization of local governments including Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.
Chad Gruenwald, Michigan State Police trooper who has served about eight years from the Groveland Township post, says the traffic light at M-15 and Oakwood Road is key to limiting the number of crashes at the intersection.
‘The light has saved lives and re-duced crashes,? said Gruenwald, referring to the traffic signal which became operational in August 2006.
‘Oakwood Road is busy and a lot of motorists are entering and exiting Bueche’s’it all comes together on M-15 just outside of town. The key is slowing down and waiting a second longer at the intersection to make sure traffic stops, as opposed to taking a big chance.?
While business traffic plays a role in crashes in Groveland Township, curves and a hill impact the high crash intersection of M-15 and Seymour Lake Road in Brandon Township.
‘If you’re waiting to turn left off M-15 to Seymour Lake Road, it’s hard to judge the speed of approaching traffic from the south,? said Sgt. Pete Burkett, Oakland County Sheriff Brandon Substation. ‘A curve and a hill near the intersection is a deadly combination.?
Burkett suggested that more crashes may occur within a quarter mile of the Seymour Lake Road intersection, but may not be incorporated in the report.
‘When cars back up on M-15 due to congestion at Seymour Lake Road, a host of other accidents can occur that may be associated with the intersection, yet not reported.?
The data compiled by SEMCOG of most township crashes ranks both the M-15 and Oakwood Road and M-15 and Seymour Lake road intersections in the top 700 of about 10,000 highest crash intersections in all of Oakland County.