Michigan traffic fatalities reach 16-year high

Data shows increase in nearly every category of crash deaths during 2021

Michigan traffic deaths peaked above 1,100 according to recently released data from the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. The 1,131 fatalities in 2021 marked the most traffic fatalities in Michigan since 1,129 deaths in 2005. 

As traffic fatalities went up 4 percent in 2021 from 1,083 deaths in 2020, the number of injuries, crashes and serious injuries also increased from the year before:

         Outcome                             2020          2021         % increase
           Injuries                                  60,986         71,246          17 percent
          Crashes                                 245,432       282,640         15 percent
Suspected serious injuries        5,433           5,979             10 percent

The percentage of alcohol-involved fatalities increased by 10 percent from 326 deaths in 2020 to 357 in 2021. This represents 31 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year.

“Unfortunately, there was a steady rise in traffic crashes and injuries during 2021, and we are determined to turn those numbers around and save more lives,” said Alicia Sledge, interim director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). “The OHSP will be coordinating high-visibility enforcement campaigns this summer focusing on impaired driving, speed and seat belt use to help reverse the trends we are seeing.”

Michigan Traffic Crashes   
                                           2021            2020         2019        2018          2017
Crashes                               282,640         245,432      314,377      312,798       314,921
Injuries                                 71,246           60,986        74,963        75,838         78,394
Fatalities                               1,131                1,083            985            974              1,028

Bicycle fatalities dropped to 29 in 2021, down 24 percent, from 38 in 2020.  In nearly every other category, there was in increases in fatalities:

- Motorcyclist fatalities increased from 152 in 2020 to 166 in 2021, up 9 percent.
- Pedestrian fatalities increased from 175 in 2020 to 183 in 2021, up 5 percent.
- Commercial motor vehicle-involved fatalities increased from 78 in 2020 to 103 in 2021, up 32 percent.
- Deer-involved fatalities increased from 5 in 2020 to 10 in 2021, up 100 percent.
- Construction zone fatalities increased from 14 in 2020 to 20 in 2021, up 43 percent. 
- Distracted-involved fatalities increased from 52 in 2020 to 59 in 2021, up 13 percent.

Note:  More detailed 2021 crash information will be posted to MichiganTrafficCrashFacts.org and Michigan.gov/crash in the coming months.