According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal Michigan motor vehicle accidents dropped by 4% last year.
This good news appears in NHTSA’s recent preview of the 2006 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of highway accidents in the United States.
The total number of auto accident victims has decreased nationally. Between 2005 and 2006, car accident deaths dropped 3.8%, light truck accident deaths dropped 2.4%, but large truck accident deaths rose by 0.1%.
Meanwhile, car accident injuries declined 6.2%, light truck accident injuries declined 1.7%, and large truck accident injuries declined 15%.
Unfortunately, the death rate from drunk driving accidents was essentially unchanged.
The NHTSA preview report included grim news for motorcyclists. The number of people killed in motorcycle accidents rose by 5.1%, while the number of people injured in motorcycle accidents rose by 1.1%. Deaths resulting from motorcycle accidents now account for 11% of all fatal highway accidents.
Later this year, NHTSA will issue its full report on 2006 highway accidents, including more detailed statistics about Michigan motor vehicle accidents.
