Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: All You Need to Know

Michigan has beautiful woods, lakeshore scenery, and a claim to our nation’s automotive history, making it one of the greatest states for taking a drive. However, anyone who takes part in a leisurely cruise here should be aware that Michigan is also home to some of the most treacherous stretches of roadway ever paved. If an accident occurs, an Ann Arbor car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and options for seeking compensation. Let’s zoom in on a few of the most dangerous roadways in Michigan.

What Makes a Michigan Road Dangerous?

It’s important to understand that there are different ways to approach the concept of what makes a particular roadway more dangerous than the next. Neglected rural back roads with uneven, pitted surfaces that can blow out a car’s suspension, steering, and tires present an entirely different sort of danger than a six-lane freeway with high incidences of road rage, for example.

From perpetually congested interstates to poorly maintained routes with more potholes than pavement, Michigan is home to an assortment of hazards on the road. Because of this wide variance, it’s possible not every Michigander may agree with our picks, and that’s understandable. For those injured due to these roadway dangers, a personal injury lawyer in Ann Arbor can help pursue compensation and navigate the legal process.

To determine our most dangerous Michigan roads, we first looked at several “dangerous roadway” reports put together by a variety of Michigan media sources that are intimately familiar with local traffic patterns, such as ClickOn Detroit and mLive, as well as radio stations 99.1 WFMK and 100.7 WITL out of Michigan’s capital city, Lansing.

These outlets collect their information from a variety of sources, including official government statistics, conversations with law enforcement, and local anecdotes. These sources primarily looked at the total number of fatal and injurious accidents when determining the most dangerous roadways. We’ll mostly follow suit, while also touching on other important roadway safety factors. We have also edited our list to represent a variety of different Michigan locales in which we offer our legal services.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: Gratiot Avenue From Liberal Street to Van Dyke Avenue – Detroit

This stretch of road, while under 5 miles long, takes the title of the deadliest road in Michigan by just about any metric. In the two-year stretch from 2018 to 2020, this road had 16 fatal crashes resulting in 18 total deaths. Possible causes for Gratiot Avenue’s deadly reputation include high instances of speeding, distracted driving, and pedestrian traffic, with some locals also complaining about inconsistent traffic signals.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: US-131 From Wealthy Street SE to 44th Street SW – Grand Rapids

This busy segment of US-131 cuts through the heart of Kent County, carrying people and cargo in and out of Grand Rapids every day. Unfortunately, non-stop traffic has turned this thruway into a hotspot for serious accidents.

A segment of US-131 measuring less than a quarter mile long had 38 crashes in 2018, with almost half of them resulting in injuries. Multiple lanes of heavy, merging traffic going around an infamous S-curve seem to be a primary reason for the increased danger levels on this bit of US-131.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: I-94 From Exit 222A to Exit 227 – Saint Clair Shores

I-94 is one of the busiest highways in Michigan, so it makes sense that it is also considered one of the more treacherous. The five-mile stretch between exits 222 and 227 is a perfect showcase of the conditions that can make I-94 challenging and downright dangerous for some motorists: high speeds, weaving traffic, and seemingly constant road construction.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: 28th Street From Eastern Avenue SE to Byron Center Avenue – Grand Rapids

The innocuously named 28th Street serves as one of Grand Rapids’ more important commercial corridors. Unfortunately, the traffic that results from this distinction has led to a high incidence of rear-end collisions, fender benders, and crashes at intersections. In fact, it’s one of the most accident-prone areas in the state, landing it on our list of dangerous roadways despite the fact that most accidents here occur at low enough speeds to avoid fatalities.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: Dort Highway (M-54) From East Pierson Road to East Morris Road – Flint

Flint’s winding exchanges and underfunded infrastructure make for a number of dangerous roads, but the stretch of Dort Highway between East Pierson and East Morris sees a disproportionate number of fatal crashes. High speeds, heavy industrial traffic, and inadequate lighting have contributed to this part of M-54 gaining a reputation as one of Michigan’s most dangerous roads.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: I-96 From Exit 182 to Exit 188 – Detroit

The second Detroit location to make our list, this part of I-96 running through urban Detroit recently tallied 10 fatal crashes (with 11 total fatalities) in a 2-year period. Speeding and distracted driving, combined with lots of lane-changing, contribute to the volatile traffic situation here.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: US-10 From Stiles Road to North Washington Avenue – Ludington

A more rural entry on our list is this deceptively deadly stretch of US-10 in the Ludington area. This particular roadway sees a mix of tourist and commercial truck traffic, as well as long stretches of highway without any signals or signage that can cause drivers to “zone out” or doze off at the wheel. The potential for high-speed, head-on collisions in these circumstances is a reminder that dangerous roads can be found anywhere.

Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan: I-75 From 14 Mile Road Exit Ramp to 14 Mile Road Overpass – Troy

This extremely short, two-tenths-of-a-mile stretch in Troy recently recorded nearly 68 crashes in a single year, with almost 20 related injuries. One common thread between many of these accidents seems to be ongoing construction and inconsistent lane closures leading to last-minute merging.

FAQs About Most Dangerous Roadways in Michigan

What Are the Most Dangerous Roads in Michigan?

The most dangerous roads in Michigan include Gratiot Avenue, US-131, and I-94, among many others. While there are many different methods for tracking and calculating how “dangerous” a road is, particular sections of these roadways have an elevated incidence of fatal and injurious traffic accidents. Michigan’s most dangerous roads exist among urban areas as well as in rural stretches.

What Is the Deadliest Intersection in Michigan?

The deadliest intersection in Michigan is 11 Mile Road/I-696 at Van Dyke Avenue, according to multiple local media sources. Not only has this intersection seen over 200 crashes and 50 injuries in recent years, but the number of injuries and crashes has also climbed sharply since 2019, jumping nearly 70% from that year to 2023.

Does Michigan Have Bad Roads?

Michigan has a mix of good and bad roads, like any other state. Resources for road construction and repair are not evenly distributed through Michigan municipalities or road authorities, nor are they evenly distributed within individual municipalities. Michigan’s weather can also be hard on roads, leading to inconsistent conditions from one year to the next. This means that going from a very good road to a very bad road can often be a matter of making a single turn.

What Is the Most Dangerous Road?

The most dangerous road to drive on is the one you travel when you’re not paying attention. Even if you have driven a particular stretch hundreds of times, always take your responsibility as a driver seriously. This can help protect you, your passengers, and your vehicle from other motorists who fail to do the same. Buckle up, check your headlights, drive sober, and put your phone away until you safely reach your destination.

Injured on a Dangerous Michigan Roadway? Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, Can Help

If you have been hurt in a crash on a Michigan roadway, the car accident team at Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, can help you pursue justice for the injuries you or a loved one have sustained. Contact us today to set up a confidential, no-pressure consultation and learn more about our services.