Macomb County Has Greatest Number Of Dangerous Intersections

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — If it seems like Macomb County is getting more dangerous for drivers, there’s a good reason: it is. Macomb County has eight of the state’s 20 most dangerous intersections, according to a local law firm.

The intersection of Eleven Mile Road/I-696 and Van Dyke Avenue that straddles the city of Warren and Center Line, in fact, is the second most dangerous in Michigan. Farmington Hills-based Michigan Auto Law compiles the list each year, which bases its ranking off of the number of crashes.

Oakland County had the second highest number of dangerous intersections with six and Wayne County had just three. Michigan Auto Law attorney Steven Gursten said years of data analysis on Michigan auto accidents has shown — unsurprisingly — that larger populations equal more traffic, which typically results in more overall car crashes.

It explains why all but one of the top 20 intersections on the list are in southeast Michigan counties, Gursten said. Besides Eleven Mile Road/I-696 and Van Dyke Avenue, other Macomb County intersections making the list include:

• 18 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights, ranked ninth
• 11 Mile Road/I-696 and Gratiot Avenue in Roseville, ranked 10th
• Metropolitan Parkway and Mound Road in Sterling Heights, ranked 12th
• Hall Road/M-59 and Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, ranked 14th
• 18 1/2 Mile Road and M-53/Van Dyke Ramp in Sterling Heights, ranked 15th
• Hall Road/M-59 and Schoenherr Road Shelby Township/Sterling Heights, ranked 17th
• 23 Mile Road and I-94 Interchange in Chesterfield Township, ranked 20th

Gursten, who is president of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association, said intersections include any accident that occurred within 250 feet of any intersection, including turnarounds and on/off ramps to highways. He said an “Intersection” is defined as any road with a traffic signal, four-way stop or roundabout.

Rankings are based data from 2016 compiled by the Michigan State Police’s traffic crash reporting unit, Gursten said. The unit collects motor vehicle accident reports from local law enforcement to identify what intersections had the highest number of reported car crashes, he added.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps