Snowmobile Deaths in Michigan Decline

Deaths from snowmobile crashes decreased slightly in Michigan this winter, despite the heavy snowfall.

The Michigan Association of Insurance Agents says 20 people died from injuries in snowmobiling accidents, down from 22 during the winter of 2007-08.

The association says this year’s snowmobiling season should be considered a safe one, in view of how long it lasted and the amount of snow that fell.

The all-time high number of deaths was 46 during the winter of 2002-03.

Excessive speed remains the primary cause of fatal crashes. More than half of them happened at night.

Michigan has about 392,000 registered snowmobiles.