When talking about dangers on Michigan roads, people tend to reference two different, well-known factors. The first is the harsh winter weather that Michigan experiences. West Michigan, in particular, tends to experience copious amounts of snow in short amounts of time due to the Lake Effect. Additionally, Michigan’s roads are notorious for having bad pavement, big potholes and other significant maintenance issues.
While the condition of the roads themselves and the weather influence crash risk, what people assume about traffic safety in Michigan isn’t necessarily true. People think that the winter is the most dangerous time to drive, but statistics paint a different picture. In 2021, the most recent year with an analysis available from the Michigan state police, the peak summer months, July and August, witnessed twice as many deadly crashes as the depths of winter.
In January and February of 2021, there were 116 deadly crashes, compared to 232 fatal crashes in July and August of the same year. Why are the summer months more dangerous for Michigan drivers?
More drunk drivers
The summer holidays are some of the most dangerous days of the entire year in terms of drunk driving crash risk. Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July all see a large number of collisions caused by those under the influence of alcohol.
More teen drivers present on the road
Safety experts often warn that the summer months are particularly dangerous for young adults with driver’s licenses. Without the structure of school limiting their socialization and daily schedules, young adults may be out on the road far more frequently. They may also be more inclined to go to parties with friends and potentially drive after drinking or trying drugs. The increase in youthful driving during the summer months translates to increased safety concerns for everyone.
More pedestrians and smaller vehicles
Some people are more likely to die in a collision than others. Pedestrians, cyclists and those on motorcycles are at higher risk of severe injury or death after a crash. Although there are certainly some people who will bike and run all year round, there will be a massive influx of both pedestrians and smaller vehicles during the summer months that may lead to deadly traffic collisions.
Michigan motorists who understand that there are unique safety concerns affecting their road safety during the summer months may have an easier time avoiding and – ultimately – contributing to those crash statistics themselves.