NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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29 people died on Michigan roadways since last week making a total of 628 this year. In addition, 145 more were seriously injured for a statewide total of 3,103 to date.
Compared to last year at this time there is 1 fewer fatality and 31 fewer serious injuries.
Numbers are provided by the Michigan State Police.
Bicyclist Safety Enforcement Week Aug. 7-13
Police to focus on reducing injuries and fatalities during Bicyclist Safety Enforcement Week. High-visibility safety campaign to take place in Michigan Aug. 7-13.
Overtime mobilization grants have been awarded to law enforcement agencies in several Michigan communities to address bicyclist injuries and fatalities on the state’s roadways. During enforcement efforts that will run from Aug. 7 to 13, officers will focus on the laws applicable to all aspects of bicycle safety as part of Bicyclist Safety Enforcement Week.
The Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) has identified the cities of Ann Arbor, Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Warren as having some of the highest number of bicycle-involved crashes over a five-year period.
“Bicyclists are one of the most vulnerable roadway users, and in Michigan, there are about 25 bicyclist fatalities each year. We must continue to combat bicycle-involved crashes because the death of even one bicyclist is one too many,” said Alicia Sledge, interim director of the OHSP.
Between 2017 and 2021, bicycle crash data for the five Michigan cities show Detroit with a total of 753 crashes, Ann Arbor with 244, Kalamazoo with 155, Lansing with 154 and Warren with 126. Over the last five years, 132 people have been killed in bicycle-involved crashes in Michigan.
During this campaign, officers will be on the lookout for violations by drivers that include illegal turns, failing to stop at a signal or stop sign, failing to give at least three feet when passing a bicyclist and blocking a roadway that interferes with the normal flow of traffic. Officers will also be looking for violations by bicyclists that include not riding with traffic, not using lights when biking at night and riding more than two side by side.
In 2021, there were 1,260 bicyclists involved in motor vehicle crashes in Michigan. During that year, the peak hour for bicycle-involved crashes and bicyclist fatalities was from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The OHSP-coordinated enforcement campaign is supported with federal traffic safety funds provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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For more information about bicyclist safety, visit the OHSP website
