23, Van Dyke Named Most Dangerous Intersection in Shelby Township

With an average of 42 crashes a year since 2007, 23 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue is the most dangerous intersection in Shelby Township, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).

However, no fatal accidents have been reported at that intersection since 2007.

Shelby-Utica Patch Facebook followers had their own list. Many people said 23 Mile and Schoenherr roads, which was No. 2 on SEMCOG's list. 

"Hands down it has to be 23 Mile just east of Schoenherr... if I had to guesstimate - I would say on average 1-2 accidents per week," said Joe Riera on Facebook.

Nancy Gindlesperger said, "The round about @ 26 mile, and 23 and schoenherr. And I too hate these new lights!"

While personal experience provides every motorist with his or her own list of the most dangerous intersections, SEMCOG uses annual crash data to analyze which crossroads cause drivers the most problems and why.

In some cases it is alcohol or red-light running that causes the accident, but in most cases it is driver error that is to blame – specifically when the driver is in the 16 to 24, or 65 and older age bracket, according to SEMCOG.

Of the accidents at 23 and Van Dyke from 2007 to 2011, 39 percent involved young drivers, defined as those age 16 to 24.

Most vehicles involved in accidents recorded in the top ten list were either hit on an angle or from behind.

Which intersections do you consider the most dangerous in Shelby Township? Tell us in the comments and we'll see where they fall on SEMCOG's list.