DETROIT – Michigan traffic deaths increased for the second straight year in 2016.
According to a new report from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Michigan traffic fatalities increase 10 percent, up from 963 in 2015 to 1,064 in 2016.
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The last time Michigan exceeded 1,000 deaths was in 2007. Crashes and injuries were also up in 2016.
- Crashes: 297,023 in 2015 to 312,172 in 2016, up 5 percent.
- Injuries: 74,157 in 2015 to 79,724 in 2016, up 8 percent.
- Serious injuries: 4,865 in 2015 to 5,634 in 2016, up 16 percent.
On a positive note, alcohol-involved traffic deaths fell 11 percent and young-driver involved deaths fell 7 percent.
“Some trends are emerging, especially with regard to drug-impaired traffic deaths, and our office is aligning resources accordingly,” said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
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“More resources are available to train law enforcement officers in the detection of drug-impaired drivers and OHSP is continuing federal funding for impaired driving traffic patrols throughout the year. In addition, planning is underway to use new earmarked federal funds to help address the state’s bicyclist and pedestrian crashes and fatalities. Our core programs, focused on increasing seat belt use and reducing impaired driving remain as important as ever,” he added.
In other areas:
- Bicyclist fatalities increased from 33 in 2015 to 38 in 2016, up 15 percent.
- Commercial motor vehicle-involved fatalities increased from 85 in 2015 to 120 in 2016, up 41 percent. Drug-involved fatalities increased from 179 in 2015 to 236 in 2016, up 32 percent.
- Motorcyclist fatalities increased from 138 in 2015 to 141 in 2016, up 2 percent.
- Pedestrian fatalities decreased from 170 in 2015 to 165 in 2016, down 3 percent.