Woodward Dream Cruise and Michigan Car Accidents
The Woodward Dream Cruise is back this year, celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary. The annual celebration of classic cars and Detroit muscle is going to be held this year from August 16, 2019 and run through the weekend.
I can personally remember the first Dream Cruise in 1995, watching it at a family member’s home and enjoying all the incredible cars that were parading down Woodward Avenue. My personal favorite that year was a red mid-1950s era Ford Thunderbird. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since the first event.
What started out as a fundraiser to build a softball field in Ferndale, Michigan has become an international event, attracting more than a million spectators who line Woodward Avenue from Ferndale to Pontiac. Cities that are participating in this year’s cruise also include Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Huntington Woods, Oakland County, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, and Royal Oak.
For a map of the Woodward Dream Cruise, click here.
For most people, the event is a nostalgic and peaceful affair meant to bring back fond memories and discussed old cars. The excitement and visitors of the Dream Cruise however brings a lot of traffic and congestion. Mix that with a fair amount of “adult beverages” and you have a recipe for car crashes and accidents. In 2016, a woman tragically died in Pontiac when the Dodge Challenger she was riding in was broadsided by a Chevy. In 2017, a man was severely injured while riding his motorcycle in Pontiac after leaving the Dream Cruise when a vehicle turned in front of him at Perry Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Here are some friendly reminders to help enjoy this year’s festivities and to avoid a Michigan car accident.
- Please don’t get too close to Woodward Avenue when viewing the cruise. Yes, getting a good seat is important. But pulling your chair or setting up a tent on the curb is not necessary and extremely dangerous. You should give yourself at least 10 feet to ensure there is a safe distance between your seat and the roadway.
- Don’t Drink and Drive. This is obvious, but it is worth mentioning. It’s illegal, it’s one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents here and Michigan car accident related fatalities. Just don’t do it.
- Be careful with alcohol consumption in general. Drinking too much is never a good activity. Add several hundred thousands of people and you have the potential for a bad situation. Having a few drinks over a period of time with food is fine, but don’t over indulge.
- Drive Safely and Don’t Rush. The roadway on Woodward is going to be busy. Very busy. If you are traveling in the cruise, take your time and enjoy yourself. Be mindful there will be lots of stop-and-go traffic. There will be long waits at traffic lights. There will be honking and yelling. Please follow the rules of the road and pay attention while driving.
The Lee Steinberg Law Firm, P.C. wishes everybody a fun and exciting Dream Cruise weekend. Be safe and let us know what rides you see by posting to our firm’s Facebook page HERE.
