LANSING (WKZO-AM) — With its roots in the Cooper Township bicycle tragedy, A Michigan Senate committee has approved a five-bill package that would improve safety for bikers and pedestrians by creating a buffer zone for bikes on the road and increased penalties for motorists who strike and kill or injure them.
A provision that three hours be spent during driver’s education on the topic was the only proposal to draw fire from the Secretary of State’s office. They say it was too large a chunk of the 28 hours they have available for drivers education.
The panel heard from a number of victims, including Jennifer Johnson, who survived the cycling tragedy that killed five in Cooper Township. They also heard from Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting, who is responsible for charging and prosecuting the man responsible for those deaths.
