(Safety Network Published: June 2015)

For the first time since 2011, Michigan traffic deaths fell below 900 for the year, from 951 in 2013 to 876 in 2014, according to information from the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. In addition to the decline in traffic deaths, alcohol-involved crash fatalities dropped 17 percent, from 284 in 2013 to 236 in 2014. Drug-involved traffic deaths were down 9 percent, from 165 in 2013 to 150 in 2014.

“While overall crashes increased 3 percent, there is some very good news in the 2014 crash data for Michigan,” said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. “The next step is further review and analysis by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute to better understand these changes.”

Large declines were also noted in motorcyclist and bicyclist fatalities.  Motorcyclist fatalities were down 16 percent, from 128 in 2013 to 107 in 2014. Bicyclist fatalities were down 22 percent, from 27 in 2013 to 21 in 2014.

Despite declines in many areas, commercial motor vehicle-involved fatalities increased for the third year in a row, up 12 percent, from 94 in 2013 to 105 in 2014.

In other areas:

• Overall traffic crashes increased 3 percent, from 289,061 in 2013 to 298,699 in 2014.

• Traffic injuries remained nearly unchanged, at 71,031 in 2013 to 71,378 in 2014.

• Serious injuries fell 7 percent, from 5,283 in 2013 to 4,909 in 2014.

• Cell phone-involved crashes decreased 3 percent, from 689 in 2013 to 666 in 2014. Cell phone-involved fatal crashes decreased from 4 in 2013 to 2 in 2014.

• Pedestrian fatalities were nearly unchanged, at 149 in 2013 and 148 in 2014.

• Deer-involved crashes fell 7 percent, from 49,205 in 2013 to 45,690 in 2014.

To date (June 9, 2015) the number of reported fatalities statewide is 325, an increase of 23 from last week. In addition, 1, 558 serious injuries have occurred on roadways statewide, an increase of 43.

The mission is to move Toward Zero Deaths on Michigan Roadways.  The statewide interim goal is to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all roadways from 889 and 5,706 respectively in 2011 to 750 and 4,800 in 2016.

For more info, visit www.michigan.gov/zerodeaths.