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.
Road deaths in Michigan since 1975
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 in Michigan
I-94 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Michigan from 2015 to 2024: 261, with 294 deaths. 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.
| 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, Kalamazoo, Allegan |
| 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
The deadliest counties in Michigan
Wayne County had the most fatal crashes in Michigan from 2015 to 2024: 1,802, with 1,948 deaths. 84 counties in Michigan recorded a fatal crash in those years; the 20 with the most are listed.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne | 166 | 1,802 | 1,948 |
| 2 | Oakland | 61 | 635 | 667 |
| 3 | Kent | 61 | 576 | 607 |
| 4 | Macomb | 68 | 535 | 558 |
| 5 | Genesee | 52 | 475 | 497 |
| 6 | Kalamazoo | 25 | 285 | 310 |
| 7 | Washtenaw | 32 | 260 | 282 |
| 8 | Ingham | 16 | 208 | 228 |
| 9 | Calhoun | 20 | 203 | 220 |
| 10 | Ottawa | 16 | 197 | 210 |
| 11 | Saginaw | 27 | 193 | 204 |
| 12 | St. Clair | 17 | 192 | 208 |
| 13 | Jackson | 22 | 191 | 206 |
| 14 | Muskegon | 19 | 189 | 203 |
| 15 | Monroe | 18 | 181 | 202 |
| 16 | Berrien | 17 | 175 | 191 |
| 17 | Allegan | 18 | 161 | 167 |
| 18 | Livingston | 9 | 147 | 170 |
| 19 | Lenawee | 19 | 135 | 148 |
| 20 | Van Buren | 11 | 131 | 146 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
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
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
| 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
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 |
| 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
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
Every vehicle in a fatal crash from 2015 to 2024, by body type (15,044 vehicles).
| 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 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 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 ("I35 FRONTAGE" and "I-35" are the same road; frontage roads and ramps are left out of road counts). Fields NHTSA coded as unknown show as "Not reported"; a share is only given over 20 crashes, otherwise "Not enough data". The full method.