19 Traffic Deaths Over Christmas, New Year's Holidays in Michigan; Alcohol a Significant Factor

Contact: Anne Readett, OHSP, (517) 241-2569

Agency: State Police

Issued: January 3, 2013

Preliminary reports indicate 10 people died in traffic crashes over the New Year's holiday in Michigan; another nine people died over the Christmas holiday, according to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.

For New Year's, half of the deaths involved alcohol; five of the nine Christmas deaths were alcohol related. For the New Year's holiday, four of the people who died were unbuckled; over Christmas, three were unbuckled.

"The importance of buckling up and driving sober can never be stressed enough," said Kathy Farnum, senior section chief of the Office of Highway Safety Planning.

Although it is early to make comparisons, last year 14 people died over the four-day New Year's holiday period and eight died over the four-day Christmas holiday period.

The New Year's holiday period began at 6 p.m. Dec. 28 and went through midnight Jan. 1. The Christmas holiday period began at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 and went through midnight Dec. 25.