Traffic crashes, fatalities rose in Metro Detroit last year: Here’s the data

DETROIT – The number of car crashes in Southeast Michigan increased from 2021 to 2022, but remains lower than pre-pandemic numbers, according to the latest annual report put out by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

The annual report breaks down the number of crashes that occurred in the region in 2022, in addition to cause factors, fatalities, injuries, and more. The data is then compared to traffic crash data over the past 10 years.

The report for 2022 shows the crash rate in Southeast Michigan increased at a pace consistent with pre-pandemic levels. The total number of crashes recorded in 2022 was 128,821, up from 124,631 in 2021.

The report says rear-end crashes continued to be the most common in 2022.

Traffic crash fatalities

Car crash fatalities continued to rise again in 2022 -- almost reaching the number of fatalities recorded in 2020, which was the highest it’s been in 10 years. There were 450 crash-related fatalities in the Metro Detroit region in 2022, compared to 426 in 2021.

The region’s fatality rate significantly grew in 2022, the report says, and was the second-highest fatality rate in 10 years. The all-time high for traffic fatalities in the last 10 years occurred in 2020, when 452 fatalities were recorded.

Fatalities related to speeding increased for the fifth-consecutive year, reaching a 10-year high in 2022.

“Crashes involving drivers whose speed is too fast for the road condition increased 4% for a second year in a row,” the report reads.

While motorcycles were only involved in 1% of crashes reported in 2022, those crashes “accounted for 14% of all fatalities” in Southeast Michigan.

Alcohol and drugs also continued to be a primary factor behind crash-related fatalities in 2022, though the number of impaired crashes decreased 5% last year. There were 4,331 traffic crashes involving an impaired driver in 2022, down from 4,550 in 2021.

The report also says that crashes that occurred with a single vehicle, or with an angled or head-on collision, or amid a left turn resulted in “the most traffic fatalities and serious injuries.”

“While less than 2% of crashes involved unbelted vehicle occupants, those occupants accounted for 19% of all traffic fatalities and 11% of all serious injuries.”

Serious injuries

The serious injury rate in Southeast Michigan, and in the state as a whole, decreased in 2022 -- though officials say the rate has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Still, the serious injury rate related to traffic crashes has been decreasing for two years.

Crashes involving motorcycles accounted for “13% of all serious injuries within the region.”

Intersection crashes

Crashes at intersections throughout the region slightly decreased in 2022, and remained lower than pre-pandemic levels.

A total of 40,316 intersection crashes were recorded in 2022, slightly down from 41,109 intersection crashes reported in 2021.

The 10-year low for intersection crashes occurred in 2020, with 35,928 intersection crashes recorded. The 10-year high occurred in 2016, with 51,379 intersection crashes reported.

According to the report, crashes at intersections accounted for 31% of crash fatalities and 38% of serious injuries in 2022, “the highest combined share of any emphasis area.”

Here’s a look at the 5 Metro Detroit intersections with the most traffic crashes in 2022:

1. Warren: Van Dyke Avenue at eastbound 11 Mile Road. Number of crashes in 2022: 109.
2. Ann Arbor: State Street South at Ellsworth Road West. Number of crashes in 2022: 96.
3. Commerce Township: North M-5 (Pontiac Trail N) at Martin Parkway. Number of crashes in 2022: 84.
4. Sterling Heights: 18 1/2 Mile Road at South M-53/Van Dyke ramp. Number of crashes in 2022: 79.
5. Lincoln Park: Southfield Road at Dix Highway. Number of crashes in 2022: 79.

Here’s a look at the Metro Detroit intersections that saw the most traffic crashes on average between 2018-2022:

1. Farmington Hills: 14 Mile Road West at Orchard Lake Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 114. Number of crashes in 2022: 65.
2. Sterling Heights: 18 1/2 Mile Road at South M-53/Van Dyke ramp. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 112.8. Number of crashes in 2022: 79.
3. Ann Arbor: State Street South at West Ellsworth Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 99.6. Number of crashes in 2022: 96.
4. Commerce Township: North M-5 (Pontiac Trail) at Martin Parkway. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 97.8. Number of crashes in 2022: 84.
5. Utica: Van Dyke Avenue at East M-59. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 73. Number of crashes in 2022: 78.
6. Lincoln Park: Southfield Road at Dix Highway. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 71.8. Number of crashes in 2022: 79.
7. Warren: Van Dyke Avenue at eastbound 11 Mile Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 71.6. Number of crashes in 2022: 109.
8. Southfield: Telegraph Road at West 12 Mile Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 67.6. Number of crashes in 2022: 72.
9. Canton Township: Ford Road at North Lilley Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 62.2. Number of crashes in 2022: 58.
10. Canton Township: Ford Road at North Haggerty Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 60.8. Number of crashes in 2022: 59.
11. Green Oak Township: Whitmore Lake Road at Lee Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 60.6. Number of crashes in 2022: 69.
12. Ann Arbor: North US-23/East Washtenaw Avenue ramp at Washtenaw Avenue. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 59.2. Number of crashes in 2022: 60.
13. Warren: Van Dyke Avenue at westbound 11 Mile Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 57. Number of crashes in 2022: 76.
14. West Bloomfield Township: Farmington Road at West Maple Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 56.8. Number of crashes in 2022: 76.
15. Taylor: Telegraph Road at Van Born Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 55.2. Number of crashes in 2022: 63.
16. Sterling Heights: Mound Road at Metropolitan Parkway (16 Mile Road). Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 55.2. Number of crashes in 2022: 49.
17. Lathrup Village: Southfield Road at West 11 Mile Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 54.2. Number of crashes in 2022: 57.
18. Bloomfield Township: West Square Lake Road at Franklin Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 53.2. Number of crashes in 2022: 64.
19. Warren: Mound Road at 12 Mile Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 53. Number of crashes in 2022: 56.
20. Dearborn Heights: Ford Road at North Beech Daily Road. Average number of yearly crashes 2018-2022: 53. Number of crashes in 2022: 55.

Find the 2022 SEMCOG report here.