COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Sanilac County, Michigan
Road fatality data for Sanilac County (MI). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 50
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 11
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 27.2
- Per 100k Residents
- Above average
- Increasing
- Trend
Rising fatality trend
Sanilac County's FARS series is labeled Increasing with 11 deaths in the latest year.
Sanilac County on a rising FARS trend
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Sanilac County ranks #500 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #7 of 74 rated counties in MI. Sanilac County's fatality rate of 27.2 per 100,000 residents leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure.
- #500 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,412 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #7 of 74
- in MI by rate
- Increasing
- fatality trend
NHTSA county milepost
Milepost SANILAC-151 · Sanilac 27.2/100k · #500 of 2,328
Sanilac County · 27.2/100k · increasing
- RANK 27.2/100k
- BOOK #500 of 2,328
- TREND 50 book
- CAUSE Increasing
- PHOTO 46 crash
- VS-ST +80.5% vs MI
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Michigan state profile →
How does Sanilac County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Sanilac County is 80% deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Michigan, Sanilac County ranks 7 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 15.1 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Sanilac County's rate and the state average is 12.1 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Clare County, at 28.7 per 100,000 (a difference of 1.5). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Mackinac County (55.3), Roscommon County (50.3), Arenac County (39.6), Benzie County (32.5), Wexford County (29.3), Clare County (28.7), Lake County (23.6), Manistee County (23.5), Kalkaska County (21.6), Missaukee County (19.6), Newaygo County (19.6), Calhoun County (19.5), Lenawee County (19.5), Delta County (19.0).
Sanilac County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
27 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 21% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Sanilac County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Sanilac County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Michigan statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for MI
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with SLetter index including MI counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Sanilac County, Michigan?
Sanilac County recorded 50 total traffic fatalities across 46 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 11 fatalities. The county averages approximately 5.6 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Sanilac County?
Cause-code breakdowns are not individually published for Sanilac County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Michigan may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Sanilac County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Sanilac County is increasing. This indicates that traffic fatalities have risen over the data period, warranting attention to road safety initiatives.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Sanilac County?
Sanilac County has a fatality rate of 27.2 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Sanilac County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Sanilac County ranks #500 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #7 of 74 rated counties in MI, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Sanilac County compare to the rest of Michigan?
Sanilac County's per-capita rate of 27.2 per 100,000 residents is above the Michigan county average of 15.1. Visit the Michigan state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Sanilac County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.