Report: ‘Dramatic’ Increase in Pedestrian Related Vehicle Crashes in 2023

Total traffic accidents in Michigan decreased 2 percent from 293,241 in 2022 to 287,953 in 2023, yet the number of injuries increased by 1 percent, according to a new report released by the Michigan State Police and analyzed by the Lee Steinberg Law Firm in Southfield.

Most of the crashes occurred in the state’s most populous counties. Wayne County had 51,507 crashes with 16,481 injuries, Oakland County had 35,386 with 9,212 injuries, and Macomb County suffered 22,405 accidents with 6,838 injuries.

According to data from the report, the following were the most common causes of distracted driver-related accidents:

• Using a cell phone to talk, text, or dial: 1,726 crashes
• Using a hands-free device to talk: 205 crashes
• Using some other electronic device: 1,610 crashes
• Passenger distraction: 735 crashes
• Other activity inside the vehicle causing distraction: 5,696 crashes

In 2023, there were 15,136 accidents caused by distracted driving. This number is a slight decrease from 2022, according to the report.

“There has been a considerable push to educate people of all ages about the dangers of distracted driving, in particular using your cell phone,” says Eric Steinberg, a partner in the Lee Steinberg Law Firm. “I think this finally may be having an impact. Let’s hope it continues.”

A big change in 2023, according to the Steinberg law firm, was the decrease in the number of motor vehicle crashes involving drugs and alcohol. Given how prevalent marijuana has become in Michigan, this is somewhat of a surprise, Steinberg says. “If anything, one would expect the number of drug related crashes to only increase as marijuana consumption has increased since legalization in 2018.”

In 2023, the number of crashes involving alcohol dropped from 9,331 to 8,817, representing a large 6 percent decrease compared to 2022. The number of fatalities also dropped from 322 to 297, or 8 percent year over year. Meanwhile, the number of drug related crashes fell 8 percent in 2023 compared to 2022.

Not all the numbers were good, however. The amount of drug related crashes that resulted in fatalities increased by 3 percent, from 249 to 256.

Motorcycle crashes usually involve the most catastrophic injuries for riders and passengers. In 2023, the total number of motorcycle crashes decreased 3 percent from 3,158 to 3,056. The number of fatalities dropped 5 percent in 2023. In fact, this represents the third straight year the number of Michigan motorcycle crashes dropped.

The statistics for young drivers (age 16-20) have not gotten better. Young drivers continue to cause a disproportionate number of crashes and fatalities, and 2023 was not better. More than 15 percent of all car crashes in Michigan were caused by this small age group. And the number of fatalities increased 6 percent from 2022.

There was an 8 percent increase in work-zone accidents from 2022 to 2023. In 2022, there were 7,436 work-zone crashes, and in 2023 there were 8,017. Tuesdays had the highest number of work-zone crashes, and the month in which work-zone accidents were higher was October, with 1,071 crashes.

Michigan saw a “dramatic” increase in the number of pedestrians involved crashes in 2023. The number of crashes increased from 1,897 to 2,114, an 11 percent increase. The number of pedestrian fatalities also increased 6 percent. The increase in pedestrian crashes in Michigan is not really a surprise, but a return to pre-COVID levels when the state consistently had more than 2,000 pedestrian crashes each year.

School bus accidents have decreased in 2023 to 988 from 1,041 school bus crashes in 2022. This number is lower than pre-COVID levels when Michigan routinely saw more than 1,000 school bus crashes every year.

Other notable changes in Michigan traffic accidents include:

• Cell phone involved crashes – decreased 5 percent in 2023
• Cell phone involved fatalities – decreased 8 percent in 2023
• Cell phone involved injuries – increased 3 percent in 2023

• The number of accidents caused by individuals aged 65 years-old or older increased

• Motor homes saw a 38% increase in the number of crashes. This can be attributed to the huge increase in motor home usage post COVID.
• Snowmobiles had a 39mpercent decrease in crashes. This could be weather related.
• ORV (off road vehicles) witnessed a 13 percent drop in crashes.

Both golf carts and Mopeds saw a small increase in crashes

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