The majority of vehicles on the market right now have speedometers going well past 100 mph.

Other than the Autobahn, a freeway in Germany largely unmarked by speed limit signs, there are few places where vehicles are permitted to travel faster than 80 mph.

In February 2005, the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, raised speed limits on portions of Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway. In response, the city of East Lansing filed a motion of reconsideration against MDOT.

Since MDOT's initial decision, the speed limits were raised by 10 mph on each road. However, in March 2005, after three agencies were sued by the city over the speed limits, the Ingham County Circuit Court lowered the limits to their previous speeds.

Not long after, the limits were raised again after the state Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state.

Although the speed limits continue to be the center of contention between the city and the state, it seems inevitable to wonder why the state would even be involved in the city's regulations.

No one knows a city's trends better than that city itself. To ask about the accidents related to speed limits in East Lansing, it would seem reasonable to contact the East Lansing Police Department, or ELPD.

MDOT's transportation building, the Murray Van Wagoner Transportation Building, is located in downtown Lansing. Although relatively close to East Lansing, no one is closer that the police department, at 409 Park Lane.

Contrary to popular belief, MDOT believes that by raising the speed limits on the specific portions of roads in East Lansing, the roads will be safer for drivers.

While vehicular accidents can occur at any speed, it seems strange that the state sees that varying speeds on heavily trafficked roads makes them safer.

Wouldn't it make more sense to keep the roads at a constant speed, be it low or high?

It's undeniable that speed limits have a huge impact on drivers. There are few people who can admit to adhering to speed limits all of the time. No one knows this better than smaller-scale police departments, like the ELPD, working consistently within its city.

While it seems responsible for MDOT to show concern and attempt to regulate the speed limits within East Lansing, the safest and most effective way to promote driving safety is to have it regulated by whoever knows it best, and in this case, that would be our very own city.