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Highway speeds contributing to more deaths, report says

ANN ARBOR, MI (MPRN)--   The U.S. trend of raising speed limits has been deadly for many. 

A new study says higher speed limits have caused 37,000 additional traffic deaths since 1993. 

Michigan raised speed limits to 75 on some highways in 2017. Some states have gone further, with speed limits of 80 or 85. 

Charles Farmer is with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. He says too many people think about the few minutes they're saving by speeding, but not about the risk.

I've been out there on some of those roads where it's 80 miles an hour and I think I'd rather sit there in the right lane and be the slow poke,” he says.

Farmer says it may not be possible to lower speed limits, but states should definitely say "enough is enough," and stop raising them. 

Tracy Samilton covers the auto beat for Michigan Radio. She has worked for the station for 12 years, and started out as an intern before becoming a part-time and, later, a full-time reporter. Tracy's reports on the auto industry can frequently be heard on Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as on Michigan Radio. She considers her coverage of the landmark lawsuit against the University of Michigan for its use of affirmative action a highlight of her reporting career.