LANSING — Although Michigan traffic deaths remained above 1,000 for the second consecutive year, there was a 3 percent decrease in fatalities during 2017, according to recently data from the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. The 1,028 fatalities in 2017 marked a small decline from 1,064 fatalities in 2016.

According to the Michigan State Police, there were 4,585 crashes and 18 fatalities and 831 injuries in 2017. In Cass County, the data showed that there were 1,431 crashes, 13 fatalities and 267 injuries in 2017.

For the state, data shows that injuries decreased slightly, while crashes and serious injuries were up:

• Injuries: 79,724 in 2016 to 78,394 in 2017, down 3 percent.

• Crashes: 312,172 in 2016 to 314,921 in 2017, up 1 percent.

• Serious injuries: 5,634 in 2016 to 6,084 in 2017, up 8 percent.

The percentage of alcohol-involved fatalities increased 32 percent from 271 in 2016 to 359 in 2017.  This rise reflects, in part, better reporting methods and data collection.   

“Attention must be paid when we see nearly half of all traffic crash fatalities involving alcohol or drugs,” said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.  “This noteworthy change is causing great concern, and effective safety strategies to address this issue require a comprehensive approach in coordination with our local, county, state and federal partners. The Office of Highway Safety and Planning will continue to allocate resources in the form of federal funding to improve our capabilities in the detection, apprehension, prosecution and treatment of impaired drivers. 

“Clearly, our most basic safety countermeasures, focused on increasing seat belt use and reducing impaired driving, remain just as important now as they have ever been,” he said.

In other areas:

• Bicyclist fatalities decreased from 38 in 2016 to 21 in 2017, down 45 percent.

• Teen fatalities decreased from 94 in 2016 to 64 in 2017, down 32 percent

• Commercial motor vehicle-involved fatalities decreased from 120 in 2016 to 95 in 2017, down 21 percent.

• Motorcyclist fatalities decreased from 141 in 2016 to 137 in 2017, down 3 percent.

• Pedestrian fatalities decreased from 165 in 2016 to 158 in 2017, down 4 percent.

• Deer-involved fatalities increased from 14 in 2016 to 17 in 2017, up 21 percent.