Drug-involved, truck-involved and bicyclist deaths on the rise

For the second year in a row, traffic deaths increased in Michigan, fueled in part by increases in bicyclist, drug, and commercial motor vehicle (CMV)-involved deaths, according to the Michigan State Police (MSP) Criminal Justice Information Center.

Although the state has experienced significant decreases in traffic crashes over the past decade, from 391,486 in 2003 to 289,061 in 2013, fatalities increased 2 percent from 936 in 2012 to 951.

The biggest jumps occurred in drug-involved fatalities, which increased 22 percent from 135 in 2012 to 165 in 2013; bicyclist deaths, which increased 35 percent, from 20 in 2012 to 27 in 2013; and CMV-involved fatalities, which increased 18 percent, from 80 in 2012 to 94 in 2013.

“Michigan’s 2013 statistics mimic national trends,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, MSP director. “In recent years there has been an upswing across the country in fatalities involving large trucks, bicyclists, pedestrians and impaired driving.”

Despite an overall increase in traffic fatalities, teen fatalities, ages 13-19, fell for the second year with 69 deaths in 2013 compared to 85 in 2012.  In addition, young driver-involved deaths, ages 16-20, declined 5 percent from 142 in 2012 to 135 in 2013.

In other areas:

Cell phone-involved crashes decreased 8 percent, from 748 in 2012 to 689 in 2013. Cell phone-involved fatal crashes decreased from 8 in 2012 to 4 in 2013.  (Michigan cannot track crashes involving texting specifically.)

Pedestrian fatalities increased 9 percent, from 137 in 2012 to 149 in 2013.

The number of crashes involving deer increased 1 percent, from 48,918 in 2012 to 49,205 in 2013, and deer-involved fatalities increased by 50 percent from 8 deaths in 2012 to 12 in 2013.

Injuries increased 1 percent, from 70,519 in 2012 to 71,031 in 2013.

Alcohol-involved traffic deaths increased 1 percent, from 281 in 2012 to 284 in 2013.

Motorcyclist fatalities decreased 1 percent, from 129 in 2012 to 128 in 2013.

NOTE:  Additional 2013 crash information will be posted to Michigantrafficcrashfacts.org in the coming months.  Check frequently for updates. Information regarding crashes can be found at Michigan.gov/crash.