Crashes down, but deaths are up on MI roads

LANSING, Mich. (AP/WZZM) -- Michigan State Police say there were fewer crashes and more deaths on Michigan streets and highways in the latest year.

The agency said Monday that the number of crashes fell 4 percent in to 2012 from the year before. It says there were 273,891 crashes last year, compared with 284,049 in 2011.

State police say traffic deaths rose 5 percent last year, from 889 in 2011 to 936. And the number of injuries fell 2 percent, from 71,796 to 70,519.

In other stats:

• Commercial motor vehicle-involved fatalities increased 10 percent, from 73 in 2011 to 80 in 2012.
• Motorcyclist fatalities increased 18 percent, from 109 in 2011 to 129 in 2012.
• Bicyclist fatalities were down 17 percent, from 24 in 2011 to 20 in 2012.
• Pedestrian fatalities decreased 5 percent, from 140 in 2011 to 133 in 2012.
• The number of crashes involving deer declined 9 percent, from 53,592 in 2011 to 48,918 in 2012.

They say that cellphones were involved in 9 percent fewer crashes last year -- 748 compared with 821.

State police say there's been a 31 percent drop in the number of crashes over a decade. There were 395,515 crashes in the state in 2002.

AP