Michigan Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Michigan Fatal Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Michigan reports a lower rate of traffic fatalities per 100,000 population than the US average with 9.71 as opposed to 10.92 for the national average. The total number of traffic deaths in 2015 was 963 with 141 fatalities involving motorcycles. This number was a significant increase from 2014, which had 112. However, numbers have been fluctuating up and down throughout the last ten years, according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The numbers for 2015 are at the highest point for this period.

While 75 people who died in a motorcycle accident were wearing a helmet, another 57 did not have on a helmet at the time of the accident. These ratios were consistent with the past few years since 2012. In 2011, 100 people who died were wearing helmets as opposed to 10 who did not. Michigan state law requires all people under the age of 21 to wear a helmet at all times while those who are over this age must purchase additional insurance if they do not wear a helmet. In 2015, 57 percent of the drivers and riders wore a helmet, which saved 48 lives. Another 23 lives would have been saved if 100 percent of riders wore helmets.

Fatalities span all age ranges in Michigan. Thirty-six people who died were between the ages of 20 and 29 while another 36 were between 50 and 59. There were 22 deaths for those over the age of 59 and three under the age of 20.

The majority of counties in Michigan had more than one motorcycle fatality but fewer than six. Some reported zero for 2015 while four reported between 6 and 15. One county reported a significantly higher number. Wayne County had a total of 30 deaths related to motorcycles for the year, which was a dramatic increase from the 10 reported in 2014.


WordPress Lightbox Plugin