Roundabout records 210 crashes, prompting renewed focus on intersection safety
The roundabout at 18 1/2 Mile Road and Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights was identified as the most dangerous intersection in Michigan for 2025 after a review of Michigan State Police crash reports by Michigan Auto Law. The firm reported 210 crashes at the site last year, including 12 injuries, and said crashes there rose 29.6% from 162 in 2024.
The analysis, covering state police data, ranked the top 20 crash-prone intersections across Michigan and noted that roundabouts accounted for five of those locations. The Sterling Heights site recorded no fatalities in 2025, according to local broadcast reporting that accompanied the study.
"Even when a crash doesn't result in an injury, it can have a significant impact on a driver and their family," said Steve Gursten, president and attorney at Michigan Auto Law.
Michigan Auto Law attributed the leading causes at the identified intersections to driver behavior and vehicle operation issues. The report listed common contributing factors including:
- Running red lights
- Disregarding stop signs and yield signs
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Improper left-hand turns
- Speeding, distracted and impaired driving
The Sterling Heights roundabout’s placement atop the list underscores a broader trend in the report: intersections remain a frequent site of crashes statewide. The firm said nearly one-third of all Michigan crashes — and about 30% of fatal crashes — happen at intersections, highlighting the continued importance of design, signage and driver attention in these areas.
Local implications and questions for planners
For Sterling Heights drivers and officials, the ranking raises questions about traffic flow, signage and public education around the roundabout. Roundabouts are often promoted as a design that reduces the severity of crashes compared with traditional intersections, but the Michigan Auto Law report shows they still present collision risks when drivers fail to observe yield controls, speed or become distracted.
City traffic engineers and public safety officials have several tools for responding when a location shows a sustained increase in crashes: reviewing pavement markings and signage, evaluating sight lines, adjusting approach speeds, and increasing targeted enforcement or public outreach on correct roundabout use. The report does not assign responsibility to any single factor at the Sterling Heights location, only that the recorded crashes and injuries are notable.
| Intersection | Crashes (2025) | Injuries (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 1/2 Mile & Van Dyke (Sterling Heights) | 210 | 12 |
| Telegraph & Maple (Bloomfield Twp.) | 83 | 47 |
The Michigan Auto Law list also named intersections across the region, including locations on Van Dyke at 11 Mile/Interstate 696 in Warren/Centerline and Telegraph Road at 12 Mile in Southfield, among others. City residents can review the full ranking to see adjacent communities’ trouble spots and consider how regional traffic patterns may affect Sterling Heights roadways.
What drivers should know
Officials and the advocacy group behind the report emphasized driver behavior as a key factor. For roundabouts specifically, drivers are advised to slow on approach, yield to circulating traffic, choose the correct lane for intended exits and avoid distractions. Where signage or road geometry impede safe operation, residents can bring concerns to the city’s public works or traffic safety division for review.
The report and the spike in crashes at the Sterling Heights roundabout may prompt local action, ranging from engineering reviews to community education campaigns. For now, the ranking serves as a reminder for drivers to exercise extra caution at intersections and roundabouts throughout the city and region.
