Orange barrels are a fixture of Michigan summers, and Macomb County’s roads — Hall Road, Gratiot Avenue, M-53, I-94, and I-696 — see significant construction activity during the warmer months. That activity comes with real risk for drivers and road workers alike.

What the Data Shows

According to the Michigan State Police 2024 Statewide Traffic Crash Data Year End Report, work-zone-involved fatalities rose 17 percent in 2024, reaching 28 deaths statewide. A Michigan Department of Transportation release covering 2024 reported 16 deaths in Michigan work zones and more than 6,000 work zone crashes that year. Preliminary 2025 statistics from MDOT showed approximately 6,000 work zone crashes, similar to 2024 levels.

Why Summer Is the Highest-Risk Season

According to MDOT’s work zone safety data, fatal work zone crashes occurred more often during the months of May through September, and more work zone crashes overall occurred during daytime hours than at night. This places the entire summer construction season — exactly when Macomb County road projects are most active — squarely within the period when fatal work zone crashes are most common.

What Causes Work Zone Crashes

According to MDOT, the leading causes of work zone crashes are driver distraction and speeding. MDOT also reports that most work zone crashes are caused by inattentive or distracted drivers, and that speeding — including driving too fast for conditions — is a leading cause of fatal work zone crashes specifically. The highest number of work zone crashes occur when lanes are closed, with the second and third-highest numbers occurring when work takes place on the shoulder or median and during lane shifts or crossovers.

MDOT data also indicates that drivers and their passengers — not road workers — are most often the ones killed or injured in work zone crashes. This is an important point for Macomb County drivers to understand: the risk in a construction zone is not limited to the workers behind the barrels. It applies directly to the people driving through.

What Drivers Can Do

Reduced speed limits in work zones exist because lane widths, shoulder widths, and merging areas are narrowed to accommodate construction. Slowing down and eliminating distractions — particularly phone use — are the two changes MDOT identifies as most directly tied to preventing these crashes. Leaving extra following distance and merging early, before lane closures force a last-minute lane change, can reduce the kind of rear-end and sideswipe crashes that are common in congested work zones.

What This Means If You’ve Been in a Work Zone Crash

Work zone crashes can involve a range of factors specific to the construction site itself — signage, lane markings, barrier placement, and how clearly the zone was communicated to approaching traffic — in addition to driver conduct. An attorney can evaluate the specific facts of a work zone crash, including the construction company’s traffic control plan where relevant, to help determine what legal options may be available.

If you were involved in a crash in a construction zone on a Macomb County road, our team may be able to help you understand your options. We serve clients throughout Macomb County and the surrounding communities. To speak with a Michigan personal injury attorney, contact us today.

Source: Michigan State Police, 2024 Statewide Traffic Crash Data Year End Report: Michigan Department of Transportation, National Work Zone Awareness Week Starts Monday: Respect the Zone So We All Get Home (April 2025); Michigan Department of Transportation, Work Zone Safety Fast Facts