KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The City of Kalamazoo says new data shows its Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan continues to work, as 2025 marked another year of sustained improvement in city-wide traffic safety, according to finalized crash data compiled from Michigan State Police records.
Data compiled from Michigan State Police records shows total reported crashes in 2025 were 2,339, a decrease from 2,530 in 2024 and a 24.4 percent reduction compared to the 2014–2019 pre-pandemic average of 3,093 crashes per year.
The city says over the past three years, the Safe Streets for All initiatives are estimated to have prevented approximately 1,715 crashes, compared to expected totals based on historical averages.
“The data show that this is not a one-year fluctuation,” said Dennis Randolph, Public Works Manager and Traffic Engineer for the City of Kalamazoo. “We are seeing a sustained downward trend in crashes and injuries. The consistency of the improvement tells us our safety investments are working.”
From 2024 to 2025 alone, total crashes declined by 191 crashes, or 7.5 percent, continuing the city’s steady downward trajectory.
The City of Kalamazoo has adopted the Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan to guide future transportation safety improvements in Kalamazoo, working to enhance a safe network for walking, biking, riding, and driving throughout the city. It also unlocks additional federal funding for infrastructure improvements.
Traffic safety and calming measures across the city include changing four-lane streets to three lanes, lane elimination and narrowing, roundabouts, traffic circles, bike lanes and cycle tracks, enhanced pedestrian crossing lighting and signing, pedestrian refuge islands, dynamic signal timing, audible pedestrian crossing signals, signal backplates, changing YIELD signs to STOP signs, adding STOP signs to uncontrolled intersections, general traffic signing upgrades, and speed humps.
Engineering staff say on street segments that have speed humps, the average speed of traffic has decreased by about 2.3 miles per hour, and traffic volumes have decreased by about 11 percent.
May we also compare this to data to date on how many people are now traveling by other means? ex: folks that have gone from driving a car to ride share, taxi, bus, friends/family etc.
May we also compare this data to date broken down into age ranges? ex: is this current data a result of older drivers leaving the road or younger drivers gaining experience?
May we be informed on how many of these accidents were related to impaired drivers, assuming they’ve now left the roadway?