April 22, 2004

Michigan traffic deaths resulting from alcohol and/or drug involvement reached record lows in 2003, according to figures compiled by the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center (CJIC). CJIC is responsible for collecting and processing the state’s traffic crash forms.

During 2003, 442 people died in alcohol and/or drug involved traffic crashes, a 4 percent decrease from 2002. The percent of alcohol and/or drug-involved fatalities fell to 34.5 percent of all fatalities, a 27 percent decrease since 1990 when it represented nearly 47 percent of all traffic deaths.

"Strong laws, strict enforcement and intense publicity have contributed to our positive decline in deaths attributed to alcohol or drugs," said Michael L. Prince, division director of the Office of Highway Safety Planning. "We also know that increased safety belt use is having an impact on alcohol-involved fatalities."

Prince added that it is difficult to tell what role the state’s new drunk driving law played in the decline, given that it took effect Sept. 30, 2003.

"It’s only speculation at this point, whether or not the new, stricter drunk driving law contributed to the drop in traffic deaths involving alcohol or drugs," he said.

The new law lowered the level at which a person is considered a drunk driver, from .10 blood alcohol content to .08.

Overall, Michigan reported 391,488 traffic crashes in 2003, 1,172 fatal crashes and 76,598 injury crashes. The number of people killed increased slightly, from 1,279 in 2002 to 1,283 in 2003. Injuries went down by over 6 percent from 2002, and represented the lowest number in the past 15 years.

Michigan Traffic Crash Three-Year History