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In Lapeer County there were 3,271 crashes in 2007, a rise of 82 from the 3,189 recorded in 2006. Fifteen persons lost their lives on county roads in 2007, up from seven in 2006. Injury crashes increased by 152 and the county recorded 128 more property damage accidents in 2007.

"Young driver fatalities, ages 16 to 20, increased by almost 6% in the state," said MSP Sgt. Joe VanderMeulen of the Lapeer Post. "That really concerns me. We need to continue to educate our young drivers."

State traffic fatalities remained steady from 2006 to 2007 and the number of fatal crashes declined from 1,002 to 987. Alcohol and/or drug-involved fatalities fell 13%, from 440 in 2006 to 382 in 2007, the lowest number in more than a decade, according to just-released information from the Criminal Justice Information Center.

"By law, all police agencies send crash information to the Criminal Justice Information Center and they're the keeper of the data," said Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning Communication Manager Anne Readett. "We use the information for planning and programming."

The latest statistics show 45% of those who die on the highway aren't using safety restraints and 35% of traffic deaths involve alcohol or drugs, said Readett.

Though Lapeer County showed an increase in traffic deaths, state figures indicate a downward trend. Experts are crediting this to a substantial increase in safety belt use. Michigan has one of the highest belt use rates in the country at 94%. Other factors attributed include improvements in road design and intersections, as well as continuing vehicle safety improvements such as air bags, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.

The state-wide OHSP crash data also shows: