1996 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts

NHTSA · 1997 · ROSA P / Michigan. Office of Highway Safety Planning

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Summary

This report, titled *1996 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts*, presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of motor vehicle crashes in Michigan for the year 1996. Produced by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute for the Office of Highway Safety Planning, the document compiles data from police-reported crash forms (UD-10) and state agencies to evaluate traffic safety trends, exposure factors, and the impact of alcohol consumption. The primary objective is to provide a detailed account of crash frequencies, severity, and demographic patterns to inform highway safety planning and policy. The study utilizes data collected from local police departments, sheriff jurisdictions, and the Michigan Department of State Police, with supplementary information from the Departments of Transportation, State, and Community Health. The analysis covers 435,477 reported crashes, including fatal, injury, and property-damage-only incidents. Key exposure metrics include vehicle registrations, licensed driver counts, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The report compares 1996 figures against 1995 data and provides ten-year historical trends (1987–1996) to contextualize recent changes. Specific focus is placed on alcohol involvement, defined by police reports of drivers or pedestrians having been drinking (HBD), as well as restraint usage, age demographics, and crash types such as single-vehicle incidents and deer collisions. In 1996, Michigan recorded 1,505 traffic fatalities, a 2.1 percent decrease from 1995, and 142,553 injuries, down 2.6 percent. Despite these reductions, total reported crashes increased by 3.4 percent. The death rate fell to 1.7 per 100 million vehicle miles, a 5.6 percent drop from the previous year. Exposure factors rose significantly, with vehicle registrations increasing 4.6 percent to 8.11 million and licensed drivers up 7.2 percent to 8.29 million. Alcohol remained a critical factor: 36.4 percent of fatal crashes involved drinking, and 61.4 percent of alcohol-related fatal crashes were single-vehicle incidents. Restraint usage was reported at 78.2 percent for all drivers and injured passengers, though only 41 percent of fatal victims were restrained. The economic cost of crashes totaled approximately $9.84 billion. The findings indicate that while absolute fatality and injury counts decreased, they did so despite substantial increases in traffic volume and driver population, suggesting improved safety outcomes relative to exposure. The data highlights persistent risks associated with alcohol impairment, particularly in single-vehicle crashes, and identifies specific vulnerable groups, such as pedestrians and young drivers. The report underscores the importance of continued safety programs, noting that motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of accidental death for teenagers and young adults in Michigan. By providing granular data on crash circumstances, the document serves as a foundational resource for evaluating the effectiveness of existing safety laws and identifying areas requiring targeted intervention.

Key finding

In 1996, Michigan recorded 1,505 traffic fatalities and 435,477 total crashes, with alcohol involvement present in 36.4 percent of fatal crashes.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• incidence prevalence
• fatality injury trends
• demographic disparities
• comparative international

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes