Has wind ever blown a car off the Mackinac Bridge?

No. The Mackinac Bridge Authority says no vehicle has ever been blown off the bridge. More than 200 million vehicles have crossed since the five-mile bridge opened in November 1957, and two vehicles have gone over the railing. Neither case was a vehicle being lifted away by wind.

On September 22, 1989, a Yugo went over the railing. The Authority says the police report estimated that it was traveling faster than 60 mph. Wind may have contributed to the driver losing control, but it did not blow the car off the bridge. In March 1997, a Ford Bronco went over the railing in a case later ruled a suicide. Both were terrible events, and neither supports the folklore version.

That does not make high wind harmless. The Authority bases its minimum restrictions on sustained wind, not gusts: an advisory begins at 20 mph, high-profile vehicles need escorts at 35 mph, those vehicles are held at 50 mph, and the bridge closes to all traffic at 65 mph. Other hazardous conditions can bring restrictions sooner. Check the live conditions page instead of using the numbers as a promise that the bridge will stay open.

If the bridge itself makes you too nervous to drive, the Authority offers a paid driver-assistance service around the clock for adults. The request point differs on the north and south sides, so read the current instructions before you arrive.