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.
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.