Wrong-Way Drivers: What Metro Detroit Drivers Should Know [Metro Detroit]

Wrong-way driving crashes have been a recurring danger on Metro Detroit’s freeway network. Several serious incidents have occurred on I-94, I-96, and I-75 in recent years — including the July 1, 2026 crash on I-75 near Holly that killed a family of four when a driver with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit entered the freeway traveling the wrong direction. Understanding what causes wrong-way crashes, how to respond when you encounter a wrong-way driver, and what legal options may be available after a crash is important information for anyone who drives Michigan’s freeways.

What the Data Shows

According to a 2021 analysis by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there were 2,008 deaths from wrong-way driving crashes on divided highways in the United States between 2015 and 2018 — an average of approximately 500 deaths per year. That figure represented a 34 percent increase from the average of 375 deaths annually recorded between 2010 and 2014. The AAA Foundation noted that the odds of being a wrong-way driver increased with alcohol impairment, older age, and driving without a passenger.

Six in ten wrong-way crashes in that study involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Drivers with blood alcohol concentrations above the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL were significantly more likely to be wrong-way drivers than non-impaired drivers. The National Transportation Safety Board, which reviewed the AAA Foundation’s findings, noted that wrong-way crashes are often fatal because they typically involve head-on collisions at freeway speeds.

Why Metro Detroit Freeways Are Vulnerable to Wrong-Way Crashes

The tri-county area’s freeway network — I-94, I-96, I-75, I-696, and the Lodge and Southfield freeways — includes numerous interchange ramps where a disoriented or impaired driver can inadvertently enter a freeway traveling against traffic. Late-night and early-morning hours carry elevated risk, as impaired driving and driver fatigue both peak during those windows. The AAA Foundation analysis found that wrong-way crashes occurred most frequently between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., with midnight to 3 a.m. representing the highest-risk period.

What to Do if You Encounter a Wrong-Way Driver

If you see a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on a Michigan freeway, the recommended steps are to move to the right lane or right shoulder as quickly as it is safe to do so, slow down, activate your hazard lights, and call 911 immediately with your location and direction of travel. Do not swerve into oncoming lanes to avoid the wrong-way vehicle, as this can create additional hazards.

Under MCL 257.634, Michigan law requires drivers to keep to the right side of the roadway. A driver who enters a freeway traveling against traffic may face criminal charges depending on the circumstances — including OWI charges if impairment is involved, or more serious charges if the crash results in injury or death.

What Legal Options May Be Available After a Wrong-Way Crash

When a wrong-way driver causes a crash that injures or kills another person, the family or injured party may have grounds to pursue a civil claim under Michigan law. Whether such claims are available, and against which parties, depends on the specific facts of the crash and what the investigation establishes. An attorney can evaluate those questions and help identify all applicable insurance coverage.

Michigan’s no-fault system provides PIP benefits for medical expenses and wage loss regardless of fault. Whether additional claims may be available depends on the nature of the injuries and the specific circumstances. If you or a family member were injured in a wrong-way crash anywhere in Macomb, Wayne, or Oakland County, our team may be able to help. To speak with a Michigan personal injury attorney, contact us today.

Sources:

• AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “Heading the Wrong Way with Wrong-Way Driving”
• MCL 257.634, Michigan Vehicle Code