Car accident statistics for Macomb County, Michigan (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Macomb County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 37 in 2020 to 57 in 2021, then fell to 54 in 2022 and 52 in 2023. The count rose to 62 in 2024. That made 2024 the highest year and 2020 the lowest year in the reporting period. The 2024 count was 25 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 42 in 2020, 61 in 2021, 59 in 2022, 54 in 2023 and 70 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 88.1%, 93.4%, 91.5%, 96.3% and 88.6%, respectively. The highest share occurred in 2023, while the lowest occurred in 2020.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Macomb County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 160 deaths, or 61.1% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 33 deaths, or 12.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 69 deaths, or 26.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category concerns deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification and is not a literal test of a person's position relative to a vehicle; the grouping can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 70 deaths (26.7%), Head-on for 33 (12.6%), Rear-end for 25 (9.5%) and Sideswipe for 8 (3.1%). Other accounted for 1 death (0.4%). The largest row, Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport, accounted for 125 deaths (47.7%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These car accident categories describe the first harmful event. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport means that event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 143 car accident deaths, or 54.6%. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 119 deaths, or 45.4%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count for 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 250 deaths in urban settings (95.4%) and 8 in rural settings (3.1%). Land use was unknown for 4 deaths (1.5%). Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 15, representing 5.7% of the selected deaths during the reporting period.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Michigan and the United States

Macomb County's car accident death rate was 6.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The county rate was lower than Michigan's 9.7 and the national rate of 10.5. Among the listed neighboring counties, Wayne County recorded 10.7, Oakland County recorded 4.7 and St. Clair County recorded 12.9.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Macomb's rate was higher than Oakland's and lower than Wayne's and St. Clair's. St. Clair had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, and Oakland had the lowest. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and they count deaths by crash location.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Macomb County, of any vehicle type, with percentages measured against all traffic deaths. Speeding-related accounted for 66 deaths (23.1%); Roadway departure, 105 (36.7%); At an intersection, 106 (37.1%); and Pedestrian involved, 63 (22.0%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 47 deaths (16.4%); Hit-and-run, 25 (8.7%); Driver distraction reported, 18 (6.3%); and In a work zone, 9 (3.1%). These figures are not restricted to the car accident selection used elsewhere here. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The characteristics are not findings of fault or cause.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts follow crash location, not residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that geographic grouping in mind.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates use summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, for 2020 through 2024. Deaths divided by that sum and multiplied by 100,000 give average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Oakland County, Michigan (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Wayne County, Michigan (2020-2024)
• Michigan car accident statistics (2020-2024)