Many different things can be indicators of how safe things are out on Michigan's roads. One are crash accident statistics. Recently, statistics have come out regarding auto accidents in the state in 2014. The statistics show some discouraging trends, but also some encouraging ones.
We'll start with the discouraging side. First, the statistics indicate that motor vehicle crashes went up last year. In 2014, 298,699 traffic accidents happened in the state. This is up 3 percent from the total the state saw in 2013, which was 289,061 crashes.
Last year also saw a rise in injury totals, though it was a fairly slight one. In 2014, 71,378 people were hurt in auto accidents on Michigan's roads. In comparison, the 2013 total was 71,031 injured individuals.
Now to the encouraging trends. While traffic accidents were up, the most severe potential results of auto crashes (serious injuries and fatalities) were down.
Between 2013 and 2014, the annual traffic-accident-related serious injury total in the state dropped from 5,283 to 4,909. This is a 7 percent decrease.
The percentage decrease for traffic fatalities was even greater. In 2013, 951 people were killed in Michigan auto accidents. In 2014, the traffic fatality total in the state was 876. This represents an 8 percent decrease.
Why do you think the state is seeing fewer deaths and serious injuries out on the roads even though auto accidents and auto accident injuries are on the rise? What do you think this says about road conditions and drivers here in Michigan? What do you think can be done to reduce crashes? What do you think can be done to continue the trends of falling serious injury and fatality totals for accidents in the state? What is your opinion on how safe of a place Michigan's roads are?
Source: The Detroit News, "Michigan traffic deaths fall 8% in '14," David Shepardson, April 13, 2015