The Goal of the Michigan Dangerous Roads Campaign
At Sinas Dramis Law Firm, we’re dedicated to educating motorists about Michigan’s most dangerous roads, highways, and intersections across the state, where drivers should be extra cautious, thus our “Understanding Dangerous Roads” campaign was born.
As part of our Understanding Dangerous Roads campaign, our Lansing car accident lawyers and Grand Rapids auto accident attorneys, and the rest of the Sinas Dramis auto accident legal team identify Michigan’s most dangerous roads by collecting and analyzing car crash statistics and other data. We strive to provide information regarding the risks associated with each particular stretch of highway or intersection, as well as offer tips about how drivers can safely travel through a certain designated area.
What Makes A Michigan Road Dangerous?
Even the most careful drivers can be involved in a car accident. However, there are certain factors that tend to increase the chances of an accident and can make a particular highway or intersection more dangerous than others. Some of these are:
- environment (rain, snow, ice)
- construction of the road (narrow lanes, sharp turns, shoulder drop off, etc.)
- lane markings
- shifting traffic patterns
- exit/entrance ramps and merging traffic
- ongoing road construction projects
- uneven surfaces and potholes
- obstruction or debris on the road
- obstructed or limited view (foliage, etc.)
- time of day when traveling
Another factor that can make a roadway particularly dangerous is the speed limit. In fact, in 2017 numerous Michigan highways received a Michigan speed limit increase, thereby making them potentially even more dangerous. A driver’s own behavior also contributes to the likelihood of an auto accident. Speeding, reckless driving, alcohol or drugs, fatigue, and driving distractions — especially when traveling one of Michigan’s most dangerous roads — lead to a greater chance of a collision.
So far, the Understanding Dangerous Roads campaign has focused on:
Lansing Dangerous Roads
Jackson Dangerous Roads
Michigan Dangerous Roads: The Numbers
Michigan auto accident deaths have unfortunately continued to increase during the past several years. In 2021, 1,131 people died in a crash in Michigan, and in 2020, 1,083 people which is up from the 985 who lost their lives in 2019. This increase in 2020 and 2021 is especially surprising given the fewer numbers of cars on the roads due to the COVID-19 health crisis that had many drivers and families sheltering in place. And when it comes to nationwide traffic deaths, 2020 brought a 7.2% increase in auto accident fatalities compared to the year before. At 38,680 deaths caused by a motor vehicle collision, more people died nationally than in any other year since 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Why the increase in auto accident deaths in recent years? Experts say that risky driving behavior such as speed and distractions could be partially to blame.
A driver’s behavior is a factor in nearly 90 percent of fatal car crashes. Whether it’s talking to a passenger, using a cell phone, eating food, or turning music up in the car, more drivers are engaging in risky behavior today than ever before. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 660,000 distracted drivers are on U.S. roadways at any given time during daylight hours.
To make matters worse, when drivers engage in risky behaviors while traveling on one of Michigan’s most dangerous roads or intersections, their chances of being involved in an accident dramatically increase.
So how can we reduce Michigan traffic fatalities and help change risky driving behavior? We believe the key to safer roads in Michigan lies in motorists understanding Michigan’s most dangerous roads and intersections, the consequences of risky driving behavior, and Michigan’s rules of the road.
Injured in a Car Crash on One of Michigan’s Most Dangerous Roads?
If you’ve been injured in a car crash on a Michigan dangerous road, know that you have certain rights, and getting expert legal help early on is crucial in protecting and preserving those legal rights. Our Michigan auto accident attorneys have helped thousands of people injured in motor vehicle accidents and their families protect their rights to compensation that can be absolutely vital to best regaining life as it was before the accident. If you’re an injured auto accident survivor or the family member of one below is a list of very important topics you will want to understand. By clicking on the questions that pertain to your case specifically, you will be taken to another page that has all of the answers you are looking for.
Free Car Crash Case Consultation
