Michigan traffic deaths lowest since 1925

When you don't think about the headline as you read it, then it sounds like good news.
It's not good news though.
The REASON why the traffic fatalities are so low is because there are fewer people driving on Michigan roads than ever before.
The reasons for this are:
1. many residents of Michigan are giving up and moving away.
2. many factories are moving operations out of state, requiring less shipping and semi traffic.
3. many residents no longer have jobs to drive to.

there are probably a few more to add to the list, but you get the idea.
When Michigan is being compared to Rhode Island and North Dakota, you know things aren't going well.