Michigan gets low marks for traffic safety laws in national report

Traffic fatalities on Michigan roads have increased since the pandemic
A national traffic safety organization gives Michigan low marks for safety laws
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently launched a commission to lower traffic deaths by 30%

Michigan is among the worst states for traffic safety laws, according to a new report by a traffic safety consumer group.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety gave Michigan and eight other states its lowest rating for road safety laws.

Traffic deaths have risen since the pandemic. Nationally, deaths involving vehicles rose 8.2% between 2019 and 2024. Michigan deaths jumped 11.5% over the same period.

In 2024, there were 1,099 traffic deaths in the state, an average of three per day, according to Michigan State Police data.

In the first half of 2025, Michigan’s traffic fatalities were down 7.9%, with 453 deaths compared to 492 in the same period in 2024.

Several factors are contributing to the rise in fatalities and crashes, according to Patrick Daughtery, assistant deputy director of the Michigan State Police’s Field Services Bureau.

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“Mobile technologies are leading to more distracted-driving crashes, and we are seeing an increase in risky-driving behaviors, such as excessive speeding,” Daugherty said in a statement. “Adding alcohol and/or drugs to the mix increases the danger for everyone on the road.”

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety based its ratings on how many of what it considers optimal safety laws have been codified in each state, according to Katherine Chase, president of the organization.

“This report is a call to action for our elected officials to address the ongoing crisis of motor vehicle crashes,” Chase said in a recent streamed news conference.

The report credited Michigan for enforcement of front-seat seatbelt use, along with rear-facing infant seats and a law requiring children under the age of 12 to sit in the back seat. Also a positive for the state: laws against open alcohol containers, restrictions on texting while driving and automated speed enforcement in construction zones.

Among the policies Michigan needs to improve safety, according to the report:

Helmet requirement for motorcyclists. Currently, drivers under 21 must wear helmets, but those 21 and over can ride helmetless if they meet an insurance minimum.
70 hours of supervised driving for new drivers. Currently, new drivers must complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours at night, before taking a driver skill test to get a Level 2 license, which allows unsupervised driving.
Nighttime driving restrictions and passenger limits for drivers under 18. Sixteen and 17-year-old drivers are about three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash at night than during the day, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Prohibition on use of cell phones for any purpose other than emergencies for new drivers.
Mandated installation of a breathalyzer to start a vehicle for those convicted of drunk driving.
Allow cameras on traffic signals to catch drivers running red lights.

In early December, Michigan’s Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Commission launched a statewide initiative with the goal of reducing traffic deaths by 30% by 2030. It’s unclear what that commission will do — a state website laying out the tactics for reducing road fatalities was not operational as of mid-December.

“Every Michigander deserves safe roads so they can go to work, school or the grocery store,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement about the commission. “We all have a role to play in making our roads safer, and by being proactive and taking responsibility for eliminating dangerous driving behaviors, we can protect our communities, strengthen our public safety and save lives.”