More than 1,100 people died on Michigan roads in 2021, agency says

Greater than 1,130 individuals have been killed on Michigan roads in 2021, the very best quantity in 16 years, state police officers mentioned Friday.

The variety of 1,131 site visitors fatalities in Michigan final yr is essentially the most within the state since 2005 when it recorded 1,129 deaths, they mentioned. Final yr’s whole can also be a 4 p.c soar from 1,083 deaths in 2020.

Crashes and traffic-related accidents additionally rose final yr, in keeping with current information from the Michigan State Police Legal Justice Data Middle.

Michigan recorded 282,640 crashes in 2021, up greater than 15% from 245,432 in 2020, the information mentioned.

In the meantime, there have been 71,246 accidents from site visitors crashes on state roads in 2021, a 16.8% improve from 60,986 in 2020.

“Sadly, there was a gradual rise in site visitors crashes and accidents throughout 2021, and we’re decided to show these numbers round and save extra lives,” Alicia Sledge, interim director of the Michigan Workplace of Freeway Security Planning, mentioned in a press release Friday. “The OHSP will probably be coordinating high-visibility enforcement campaigns this summer time specializing in impaired driving, pace and seat belt use to assist reverse the developments we’re seeing.”

Officers additionally mentioned site visitors fatalities during which alcohol was concerned additionally elevated final yr. The variety of deaths — 357 — in these incidents for 2021 was up 9.5% from 326 in 2020. Additionally they accounted for greater than 31% of all 2021 site visitors fatalities.

Final month, the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration mentioned almost 43,000 individuals have been killed on U.S. roads final yr — the very best quantity in 16 years. The ten.5% soar over 2020 numbers was the most important share improve because the company began its fatality information assortment system in 1975.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @CharlesERamirez