US 31 in Michigan: fatal crashes
From 2015 to 2024, 127 fatal crashes on US 31 in Michigan killed 135 people, the 6th most of 162 numbered roads in Michigan. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 13 deaths on the road.
A US route running through 16 counties of Michigan. All fatal crashes in Michigan.
Deaths on US 31 in Michigan by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | 13 |
| 2023 | 12 | 13 |
| 2022 | 13 | 13 |
| 2021 | 9 | 11 |
| 2020 | 14 | 15 |
| 2019 | 17 | 19 |
| 2018 | 10 | 10 |
| 2017 | 11 | 11 |
| 2016 | 18 | 19 |
| 2015 | 10 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Where on US 31 in Michigan: the counties with the most fatal crashes
Grand Traverse County had the most fatal crashes on US 31 from 2015 to 2024: 25, with 26 deaths. Grand Traverse, Ottawa and Muskegon counties together held 50% of fatal crashes on US 31 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024; the 8 listed held 83%. Counties are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| County | 2024 | 2015 to 2024 | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Traverse County | 2 | 25 | 26 |
| 2 | Ottawa County | 1 | 21 | 21 |
| 3 | Muskegon County | 2 | 17 | 18 |
| 4 | Emmet County | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| 5 | Mason County | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| 6 | Berrien County | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| 7 | Benzie County | 3 | 7 | 8 |
| 8 | Antrim County | 1 | 6 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen on US 31 in Michigan
127 fatal crashes on US 31 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024 have a known time, too few for any one weekday and time of day to stand out. The worst hour is 7 am to 8 am; the worst month is September.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 5.5 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 4.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash |
| Wed | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 7.1 percent, 9 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 1 fatal crash | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.9 percent, 5 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 0.0 percent, 0 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 2 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 2.4 percent, 3 fatal crashes | 3.1 percent, 4 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan7.9%
- Feb2.4%
- Mar3.1%
- Apr5.5%
- May7.1%
- Jun8.7%
- Jul7.9%
- Aug15.0%
- Sep15.7%
- Oct5.5%
- Nov10.2%
- Dec11.0%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes on US 31 in Michigan first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in most fatal crashes, 54%; a pedestrian in 15%, a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 15%, a rollover in 11%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 68 | 54% |
| Pedestrian | 19 | 15% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 19 | 15% |
| Rollover | 14 | 11% |
| Cyclist | 5 | 3.9% |
| Other | 2 | 1.6% |
| Parked vehicle | 0 | 0.0% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes on US 31 in Michigan compare with the state
The largest difference from Michigan: from 2015 to 2024, 26% of occupants killed on US 31 in Michigan were unbelted, against 38% across Michigan. Below the Michigan share: motorcycles. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Michigan. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 127 crashes.
| US 31 | Michigan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural stretches | 46% | 41% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| At or near an intersection | 24% | 29% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 22% | 26% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A drinking driver | 24% | 28% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Speeding | 18% | 25% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 6.3% | 5.9% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 26% | 38% | below the Michigan share |
| Hit-and-run | 2.4% | 6.5% | about the same as the Michigan share |
| A motorcycle involved | 9.4% | 16% | below the Michigan share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 14% | 15% | about the same as the Michigan share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes on US 31 in Michigan
- How many fatal crashes have there been on US 31 in Michigan?
- 127 fatal crashes killed 135 people on US 31 in Michigan from 2015 to 2024. In 2024 there were 13 fatal crashes and 13 deaths. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- Where on US 31 in Michigan do the most fatal crashes happen?
- Grand Traverse County had the most fatal crashes on US 31 from 2015 to 2024: 25, with 26 deaths. Ottawa County was second with 21.
Other roads in Michigan with a page
- 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
All fatal crashes in Michigan, with every road ranked.
Where the US 31 numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash whose road NHTSA filed as US 31 in Michigan (filed under 18 spellings, such as "US-31", "US-31 BENZIE HWY", "US-31 BRIDGE ST", "US-31 CHARLEVOIX RD"). Ramps, frontage and service roads are left out. Where two routes share a road, NHTSA files each crash under one of them, so a shared stretch counts on one route only. A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. Totals in state and news reports for a road usually differ: they include ramps and frontage roads, or count from preliminary reports. The full method.