The Michigan State Police (MSP) announced Wednesday, Sept. 7, that preliminary reports indicate traffic fatalities decreased this Labor Day holiday weekend, with nine traffic deaths in nine separate traffic crashes. Over last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend, there were 12 traffic crashes and 15 deaths.

“These numbers are preliminary and only reflect those fatalities reported to the MSP as of 1 p.m., Sept. 6, 2016,” stated Capt. Thomas Deasy, commander of the MSP Training Division. “For the safety of everyone on the road, the MSP continues to urge motorists not to drink and drive, to always use proper restraints and to avoid distractions behind the wheel.”

The 2016 Labor Day holiday weekend ran from 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016.

(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.

Preliminary reports indicate two people died in crashes over the Christmas holiday and two people died in crashes over the New Year’s holiday in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in any of the crashes.  One of the fatalities was a pedestrian.

“Wearing a seat belt and driving sober help ensure the holidays can be about family and celebration,” said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

The Christmas holiday period began at 6 p.m. Dec. 24 and went through midnight Dec. 25. The New Year’s holiday period began at 6 p.m. Dec. 31 and went through midnight Jan. 1.

In 2012, nine people died in traffic crashes during the four-day Christmas holiday, and 15 people died in traffic crashes during the four-day New Year’s holiday.  It should be noted the holiday periods in 2012 were longer than 2013 due to the day of the week where the holidays fell.

The holiday periods are determined by the National Safety Council.

Fewer people died in Michigan traffic crashes last year, driven partially by significant declines in motorcyclist fatalities, commercial motor vehicle-involved fatalities and alcohol and drug involvement in fatal crashes. Traffic deaths dropped 5 percent, from 937 in 2010 to 889 in 2011.

Statewide crash information is collected by the Michigan State Police (MSP) Criminal Justice Information Center.

Changes from 2010 to 2011 included a 1 percent increase in total crashes, up from 282,075 in 2010 to 284,049 in 2011; and a 2 percent increase in crash-related injuries, up from 70,501 in 2010 to 71,796 in 2011.

Crash data also showed a 3 percent drop in alcohol-involved fatalities, down from 283 in 2010 to 274 in 2011. Drug involvement in fatalities fell 17 percent, from 153 in 2010 to 127 in 2011.

“It is extremely good news that traffic deaths are down in 2011,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, MSP director. “Further study will take place to see if we can determine what may have caused the fairly large changes in the areas of motorcycles, commercial motor vehicles and drug involvement in fatal crashes.”

In other areas:

Cell phone-involved crashes decreased from 881 in 2010 to 821 in 2011. Cell phone-involved fatal crashes increased from four in 2010 to six in 2011.  (Michigan cannot track crashes involving texting specifically.)

Commercial motor vehicle-involved fatalities fell 23 percent, from 95 in 2010 to 73 in 2011.

Motorcyclist fatalities dropped 13 percent, from 125 in 2010 to 109 in 2011.

Bicyclist fatalities were down 17 percent, from 29 in 2010 to 24 in 2011.

Pedestrian fatalities increased 6 percent, from 131 in 2010 to 140 in 2011.

The number of car-deer crashes declined 4 percent, from 55,867 in 2010 to 53,592 in 2011.