Michigan had 293,341 traffic crashes in 2022, which resulted in the death of 1,123 individuals.
Last year’s crash total marked a 4% increase from 2021, though it was an improvement from the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted travel patterns in 2020, according to the state’s annual traffic crash report published Wednesday, June 28.
Michigan reported 1% fewer traffic fatalities in 2022 compared to the year prior (1,131), however traffic deaths have increased more than 14% since 2019 and the 2022 total was the second-most in a year over the last decade. Out of 365 days in 2022, there were only 23 days in which Michigan did not report a single traffic fatality.
In a recent national report, traffic safety experts indicated the increase in road deaths are likely a result of people taking greater risks including speeding, impaired and distracted driving, and reduced seatbelt and helmet use.
However, Michigan reported fewer drug-related, alcohol-related, and distracted driving crashes in 2022 than in 2021. In fact, those totals were also improvements from 2018 and 2019.
The state did see a year-over-year increase in crashes involving bicycles and pedestrians. Motorcycle crashes declined slightly, however motorcycle deaths increased 4%.
There were also year-over-year increases in:
- Work-zone crashes — 28% from 5,814 to 7,436.
- Train-involved crashes — up 16% from 56 to 65.
- School bus-involved crashes — up 33% from 785 to 1,041.
- Deer-involved crashes — up 13% from 52,218 to 58,984.
- Deaths from crashes in which drivers were fleeing police — up 167% from nine to 24.
A recent report from the national transportation research nonprofit group TRIP identified 1,133 total traffic deaths for Michigan in 2022. Their count was 10 higher than Michigan State Police’s tally. A spokesperson for MSP said TRIP used an estimate from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and that the MSP data from Wednesday’s report is most accurate.
This article originally appeared in MLive. For more, click here.