Fatal crashes in Michigan
In 2024, 1,098 people died in 1,011 fatal crashes on Michigan roads, 0.2% more than in 2023. That is about 3 deaths a day, and 2.8% of all road deaths in the United States.
Michigan ranks 12th of 51 by road deaths in 2024, and 31st by deaths per resident. Every state in 2024.
Road deaths in Michigan since 1975
Road deaths in Michigan peaked in 1978 at 2,020; 2024's 1,098 is 46% below that. The lowest year was 2009 with 872. 2024 is 21% below 2000 and 38% below 1975.
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,098 | 1,011 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 1,096 | 1,022 | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 1,124 | 1,054 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 1,137 | 1,073 | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 1,086 | 1,013 | +10.1% |
| 2019 | 986 | 903 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 977 | 907 | -5.2% |
| 2017 | 1,031 | 940 | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 1,065 | 981 | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 967 | 896 | +7.3% |
Show 1975 to 2014
| Year | Deaths | Fatal crashes | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 901 | 831 | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 947 | 876 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 940 | 874 | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 889 | 834 | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 942 | 873 | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 872 | 807 | -11.0% |
| 2008 | 980 | 915 | -9.8% |
| 2007 | 1,087 | 990 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 1,086 | 1,004 | -3.8% |
| 2005 | 1,129 | 1,030 | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 1,159 | 1,055 | -9.7% |
| 2003 | 1,283 | 1,172 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 1,277 | 1,173 | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 1,328 | 1,206 | -3.9% |
| 2000 | 1,382 | 1,237 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1,382 | 1,245 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 1,366 | 1,234 | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 1,446 | 1,283 | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 1,505 | 1,339 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 1,530 | 1,379 | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 1,421 | 1,264 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 1,414 | 1,269 | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 1,300 | 1,179 | -8.5% |
| 1991 | 1,421 | 1,287 | -9.5% |
| 1990 | 1,571 | 1,404 | -4.1% |
| 1989 | 1,639 | 1,471 | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 1,708 | 1,526 | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 1,602 | 1,425 | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 1,605 | 1,442 | +3.9% |
| 1985 | 1,545 | 1,388 | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 1,531 | 1,368 | +16.5% |
| 1983 | 1,314 | 1,192 | -5.6% |
| 1982 | 1,392 | 1,257 | -11.0% |
| 1981 | 1,564 | 1,430 | -10.6% |
| 1980 | 1,750 | 1,561 | -4.0% |
| 1979 | 1,823 | 1,638 | -9.8% |
| 1978 | 2,020 | 1,783 | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 1,915 | 1,713 | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 1,924 | 1,707 | +8.2% |
| 1975 | 1,779 | 1,584 | No data |
Deaths within 30 days of a crash on a public road, as NHTSA counts them. 2024 is the latest year NHTSA has published; the 2024 figures are from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA releases the final file. The 2025 file is expected in spring 2027.
The deadliest roads and most dangerous highways in Michigan
I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Michigan from 2015 to 2024: 261, with 294 deaths. The 20 roads listed held 21% of all fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024; 4 are interstates, 6 US routes, 10 state highways. Interstate, US and state routes ranked by fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024; ramps and frontage roads are left out (125 crashes). Roads with 15 or more fatal crashes in 2022 to 2024 have their own page. Every numbered road in Michigan, ranked.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | Counties with the most | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-94 | 261 | 294 | 70 | Wayne, Macomb, Washtenaw |
| 2 | I-75 | 195 | 222 | 64 | Wayne, Oakland, Monroe |
| 3 | I-96 | 156 | 179 | 50 | Wayne, Livingston, Ingham |
| 4 | US 12 | 142 | 154 | 46 | Wayne, Cass, Washtenaw |
| 5 | US 131 | 141 | 159 | 47 | Kent, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo |
| 6 | US 31 | 127 | 135 | 38 | Grand Traverse, Ottawa, Muskegon |
| 7 | State Highway 3 | 120 | 126 | 37 | Wayne, Macomb, Kalamazoo |
| 8 | US 24 | 102 | 111 | 32 | Wayne, Oakland, Monroe |
| 9 | US 23 | 87 | 106 | 18 | Washtenaw, Livingston, Genesee |
| 10 | State Highway 102 | 77 | 79 | 30 | Wayne, Oakland, Macomb |
| 11 | State Highway 53 | 75 | 81 | 30 | Macomb, Lapeer, Wayne |
| 12 | State Highway 43 | 72 | 77 | 29 | Kalamazoo, Ingham, Van Buren |
| 13 | State Highway 59 | 69 | 75 | 18 | Oakland, Livingston, Macomb |
| 14 | State Highway 37 | 68 | 75 | 22 | Kent, Newaygo, Grand Traverse |
| 15 | US 127 | 67 | 71 | 22 | Jackson, Ingham, Gratiot |
| 16 | State Highway 46 | 65 | 73 | 24 | Montcalm, Muskegon, Saginaw |
| 17 | State Highway 96 | 62 | 64 | 27 | Calhoun, Wayne, Kalamazoo |
| 18 | State Highway 66 | 60 | 64 | 16 | Ionia, Calhoun, Montcalm |
| 19 | I-69 | 57 | 62 | 15 | Genesee, Shiawassee, Calhoun |
| 20 | State Highway 54 | 54 | 56 | 18 | Genesee |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every numbered road in Michigan as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/michigan/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in Michigan
Wayne County had the most fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024: 1,802, with 1,948 deaths. Wayne, Oakland and Kent counties together held 31% of fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024; the 20 listed held 70%. 83 counties in Michigan recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed, with deaths per 100,000 residents where the county had 10 or more deaths in 2024.
Per resident, Mackinac County has the highest rate in Michigan: 28.5 road deaths per 100,000 residents a year from 2015 to 2024, against 10.5 for the state as a whole. Counties with fewer than 10,000 residents are hatched rather than shaded: a few crashes on a highway through a small county make a rate that says more about its population than its roads.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | Deaths per 100,000100K, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne County | 166 | 1,802 | 1,948 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Oakland County | 61 | 635 | 667 | 5.2 |
| 3 | Kent County | 61 | 576 | 607 | 9.4 |
| 4 | Macomb County | 68 | 535 | 558 | 7.9 |
| 5 | Genesee County | 52 | 475 | 497 | 13.2 |
| 6 | Kalamazoo County | 25 | 285 | 310 | 9.4 |
| 7 | Washtenaw County | 32 | 260 | 282 | 9.4 |
| 8 | Ingham County | 16 | 208 | 228 | 7.2 |
| 9 | Calhoun County | 20 | 203 | 220 | 15.7 |
| 10 | Ottawa County | 16 | 197 | 210 | 5.6 |
| 11 | Saginaw County | 27 | 193 | 204 | 15.4 |
| 12 | St. Clair County | 17 | 192 | 208 | 11.2 |
| 13 | Jackson County | 22 | 191 | 206 | 14.4 |
| 14 | Muskegon County | 19 | 189 | 203 | 11.8 |
| 15 | Monroe County | 18 | 181 | 202 | 12.8 |
| 16 | Berrien County | 17 | 175 | 191 | 11.1 |
| 17 | Allegan County | 18 | 161 | 167 | 17.2 |
| 18 | Livingston County | 9 | 147 | 170 | 7.1 |
| 19 | Lenawee County | 19 | 135 | 148 | 23.5 |
| 20 | Van Buren County | 11 | 131 | 146 | 14.4 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/michigan/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”
The deadliest counties in America: every county ranked nationally, and per resident
When fatal crashes happen in Michigan
The heaviest slot is Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 413 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is August.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.1 percent, 397 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 161 fatal crashes | 1.2 percent, 121 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 279 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 275 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 262 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.5 percent, 145 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 159 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 180 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 257 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 274 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 226 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.9 percent, 92 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 155 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 152 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 260 fatal crashes | 3.2 percent, 316 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 246 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.1 percent, 107 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 172 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 164 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 249 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 307 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 261 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.5 percent, 148 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 160 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 176 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 258 fatal crashes | 3.4 percent, 337 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 274 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.7 percent, 164 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 168 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 187 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 282 fatal crashes | 3.3 percent, 326 fatal crashes | 4.1 percent, 397 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.6 percent, 355 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 129 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 174 fatal crashes | 2.8 percent, 275 fatal crashes | 3.5 percent, 344 fatal crashes | 4.2 percent, 413 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan6.7%
- Feb5.6%
- Mar6.1%
- Apr7.1%
- May8.9%
- Jun9.8%
- Jul10.2%
- Aug10.8%
- Sep9.9%
- Oct9.0%
- Nov8.5%
- Dec7.5%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where fatal crashes happen in Michigan: rural or urban, intersection, dark or daylight
41% of fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024 were on rural roads, below the US share of 43%; 29% happened at or near an intersection, above the US share of 25%; 26% in the dark on unlit roads, below the US share of 28%. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across the United States.
| Michigan | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 41% | 43% | below the US share |
| At or near an intersection | 29% | 25% | above the US share |
| In daylight | 49% | 46% | above the US share |
| In the dark, road lit | 20% | 21% | about the same as the US share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 26% | 28% | below the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Who died on Michigan roads in 2024
Vehicle occupants were 66% of the 1,098 people killed on Michigan roads in 2024; motorcyclists 17% (184), pedestrians 14% (150), cyclists 2.6% (29).
| Road user | Deaths | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle occupants | 728 | 66% |
| Motorcyclists | 184 | 17% |
| Pedestrians | 150 | 14% |
| Cyclists | 29 | 2.6% |
| Others (on personal conveyances, in parked vehicles, in buildings) | 7 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes happen in Michigan: alcohol, speeding, seat belts, hit-and-run
A drinking driver was recorded in 28% of fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024, above the US share of 26%; speeding in 25%, below the US share of 27%; a hit-and-run in 6.5%, about the US share; a driver recorded as distracted in 5.9%, below the US share of 8.7%; 38% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed with belt use known were unbelted, below the US share of 49%.
Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 with the factor recorded, against the US share. "A drinking driver" is NHTSA's drinking-driver flag (police-reported drinking or any positive alcohol test), not its "alcohol-impaired" figure. "Unbelted" is the share of passenger-vehicle occupants killed whose belt use is known (5,433 in Michigan).
| Michigan | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A drinking driver | 28% | 26% | above the US share |
| Speeding | 25% | 27% | below the US share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 5.9% | 8.7% | below the US share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 38% | 49% | below the US share |
| Hit-and-run | 6.5% | 6.5% | about the same as the US share |
| A motorcycle involved | 16% | 16% | about the same as the US share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What the first harmful event was
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 44%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 26%, a pedestrian in 15%, a rollover in 6.6%. What each fatal crash first hit, 2015 to 2024.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 4,290 | 44% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 2,524 | 26% |
| Pedestrian | 1,480 | 15% |
| Rollover | 650 | 6.6% |
| Other | 466 | 4.8% |
| Cyclist | 283 | 2.9% |
| Parked vehicle | 106 | 1.1% |
| Not reported | 1 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Vehicles in fatal crashes in Michigan
Cars were 38% of the 15,044 vehicles in fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024, SUVs 23%, pickups 15%, motorcycles 11%. Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type.
| Type | Vehicles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 5,655 | 38% |
| SUVs | 3,518 | 23% |
| Pickups | 2,318 | 15% |
| Motorcycles | 1,644 | 11% |
| Vans | 822 | 5.5% |
| Truck-tractors | 598 | 4.0% |
| Other trucks | 427 | 2.8% |
| Buses | 62 | 0.4% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Road deaths in Michigan per resident and per mile driven
| Michigan | US | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024 | 10.8 | 11.5 | below the US rate |
| Deaths per 100,000 residents a year, 2015 to 2024 | 10.5 | 11.8 | below the US rate |
| Deaths per 100 million vehicle-miles, 2024 | 1.10 | 1.19 | below the US rate |
Population 10,140,459 (Census Bureau estimate, 2024); 99,661 million vehicle-miles (FHWA Highway Statistics 2024, table VM-2). The only figures on this page not counted from FARS.
Questions about fatal crashes in Michigan
- How many people died in car accidents in Michigan in 2024?
- 1,098 people died in 1,011 fatal crashes on Michigan roads in 2024, 0.2% more than in 2023. That is 10.8 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 11.5 across the United States. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Michigan?
- I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Michigan from 2015 to 2024: 261, with 294 deaths. I-75 was second with 195.
- Which county in Michigan has the most fatal crashes?
- Wayne County, with 1,802 fatal crashes and 1,948 deaths from 2015 to 2024, 166 of them in 2024.
- When do fatal crashes in Michigan happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Saturday, 8 pm to midnight, with 413 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Michigan involved a drinking driver?
- 2,752 of 9,800 fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 28%, against 26% across the United States.
County pages for Michigan
Every county in Michigan with 30 or more fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, roads, hour and weekday, and deaths per 100,000 residents.
- Wayne County 1,802
- Oakland County 635
- Kent County 576
- Macomb County 535
- Genesee County 475
- Kalamazoo County 285
- Washtenaw County 260
- Ingham County 208
- Calhoun County 203
- Ottawa County 197
- Saginaw County 193
- St. Clair County 192
- Jackson County 191
- Muskegon County 189
- Monroe County 181
- Berrien County 175
- Allegan County 161
- Livingston County 147
- Lenawee County 135
- Van Buren County 131
- Eaton County 123
- Montcalm County 116
- Bay County 112
- Lapeer County 112
- Cass County 108
- St. Joseph County 105
- Grand Traverse County 104
- Isabella County 96
- Newaygo County 93
- Shiawassee County 85
- Midland County 81
- Barry County 79
- Ionia County 79
- Clinton County 78
- Tuscola County 75
- Sanilac County 56
- Wexford County 56
- Gratiot County 56
- Hillsdale County 55
- Mason County 54
- Clare County 51
- Roscommon County 50
- Marquette County 48
- Branch County 47
- Ogemaw County 45
- Mecosta County 45
- Osceola County 43
- Delta County 39
- Huron County 39
- Otsego County 38
- Arenac County 38
- Chippewa County 36
- Emmet County 36
- Iosco County 36
- Kalkaska County 35
- Manistee County 32
- Oceana County 32
- Antrim County 31
- Menominee County 31
- Cheboygan County 30
Road pages for Michigan
Every numbered road in Michigan with 15 or more fatal crashes from 2022 to 2024, each with its crashes by year, county, hour and weekday.
- I-69
- I-75
- I-94
- I-96
- State Highway 10
- State Highway 102
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 24
- State Highway 25
- State Highway 3
- State Highway 37
- State Highway 43
- State Highway 46
- State Highway 50
- State Highway 53
- State Highway 54
- State Highway 59
- State Highway 66
- State Highway 96
- State Highway 97
- US 12
- US 127
- US 131
- US 2
- US 23
- US 24
- US 31
Where the Michigan numbers come from
Every figure on this page except the rates is counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the federal census of fatal crashes on US public roads, 2024 Annual Report File. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Road names are normalised ("I-35", "I 35" and "I-35/PURPLE HEART TRL" are the same road); frontage roads and ramps ("I35 FRONTAGE") are left out of road counts. Totals from the state highway department and news reports can differ by a few: they count from the state's own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked and revised once a year. Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". Rates per resident and per mile use Census Bureau population estimates and FHWA vehicle-miles, the only figures not counted from FARS. The full method.