March 22, 2006

LANSING - Traffic deaths in Michigan dropped approximately 2.6 percent in 2005, falling to 1,129, down 30 people from the previous year, according to just-released information from the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC). 

“The overall picture continues to be positive and encouraging,” said Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant, director of the Michigan State Police. “My thanks to the continued support of our law enforcement community and traffic safety advocates who work diligently to ensure the safety of motorists day in and day out.”

Drops were noted in several areas, including:

• Overall traffic crashes fell almost 6 percent, down from 373,028 in 2004 to 350,838 in 2005.
• Injuries declined approximately 9 percent, down from 99,680 in 2004 to 90,510 in 2005.
• Alcohol and/or drug involved fatalities dropped slightly, from 418 in 2004 to 408 in 2005.
• Deer-vehicle crashes declined about 6 percent, from 62,707 in 2004 to 58,741, the lowest number since 1994 when the state recorded 56,666 deer-vehicle crashes. 

Despite the overall good news, motorcycle fatalities were up more than 50 percent from the previous year, from 79 in 2004 to 122 in 2005. This is the highest number of deaths since 1985 when the state recorded 142 motorcycle fatalities.

A preliminary review of motorcycle crash data does not provide insight into the large increase in deaths, but the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning is conducting a more thorough data analysis to identify factors contributing to the increase.    

The crash data also shows:

·         The number of crashes involving young drivers (ages 16 - 20) fell nearly 10 percent from 50,085 in 2004 to 44,968 in 2005.

·         Pedestrian crashes dropped from 2,724 in 2004 to 2,565 in 2005.  The number of pedestrians killed also fell, from 141 in 2004 to 139 in 2005.

·         A   5.5 percent increase was noted in motorcycle crashes, from 3,321 in 2004 to 3,504 in 2005.  The number of registered motorcycles in Michigan also continued to increase.