Tag Archives: Traffic Fatalities

Traffic fatalities in Arizona dip slightly in 2023

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PHOENIX – Traffic fatalities in Arizona decreased slightly in 2023 but are still near all-time highs, according to the state’s annual report on motor vehicle crashes on all roads, including local streets.

There were 1,307 traffic fatalities across the state last year, a decrease of 0.98% compared to 2022, according to the 2023 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report. Figures show crashes associated with alcohol impairment and inappropriate speed or speeding continue to be leading causes of deaths and injuries, providing an urgent reminder for Arizonans to avoid engaging in unsafe driving behaviors.

Fewer pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities occurred in 2023. Pedestrian fatalities fell by 12.3% and bicyclist fatalities were 10.2% lower than in 2022. Despite these improvements, the 1,307 traffic fatalities in 2023 is the second-highest annual fatality total ever recorded in Arizona and only slightly behind the 1,320 deaths recorded in 2022.

The Arizona Department of Transportation produces the annual Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report, which is a compilation of traffic crash reports provided by law enforcement agencies around the state. The document reflects reported crash data for all Arizona roadways, including city streets, county roads, reservation roads and state highways.

While the number of traffic fatalities were down by about 1% in 2023 compared to 2022, the total number of crashes on all of Arizona’s roadways was up 1.6%, 122,247 in 2023 compared to 120,356 in 2022.

The statistics show that, like in previous years, crashes and fatalities are overwhelmingly driven by driver behavior, primarily involving speed, impairment, and failure to use seat belts.

“Every fatality represents someone’s loved one,” ADOT Director Jennifer Toth said. “We need everyone using the roads to work together to reduce these preventable crashes, and we’re working with partners around the state on safety strategies to help meet ADOT’s vision of safely connecting people.”

But ADOT, which maintains the state highway system, can’t do it alone. More traffic fatalities occurred on local roads (828) than on state highways (479), and urban areas saw nearly twice as many fatalities (853) as rural areas (454).

Among factors cited, speed – determined by law enforcement to be unlawful or too fast for conditions – was reported in crashes resulting in 446 fatalities and 20,682 injuries during 2023. This accounted for 34.1% and 38.2% of the totals, respectively. During 2022, speed was a factor in 436 fatalities and 20,137 injuries.

Alcohol-related fatalities have increased in each of the past four years. The 332 killed in alcohol-related crashes represent 25.4% of all traffic fatalities. Male drivers were involved in 72.7% of crashes where alcohol was involved. Drivers ages 25-34 accounted for 35.4% of alcohol-related fatal crashes. Most alcohol-related crashes occur on weekends and at night.

“Everyone expects to come home when they leave their house,” said Jesse Torrez, Director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “Speed, distracted driving along with helmet and seat belt usage are a conscious choice. All of these choices can save lives. We have to remind ourselves and others to take a moment and think about home.”

  • There were 258 motorcyclist fatalities in crashes during 2023, which is the highest figure in at least 20 years and an 11.2% increase from 232 during 2022. There are more motorcyclists than ever on Arizona’s roads. Since 2019, Arizona has seen a 33% increase in motorcycle registrations, going from 209,719 to 279,569.

  • Overall, failure to use a safety device, such as a seat belt or helmet, saw fewer fatalities and injuries in 2023 than 2022. In 2023, there were 361 fatalities and 3,239 injuries, while 2022 saw 376 fatalities and 3,301 injuries.

  • The report shows that at least 8,657 drivers involved in collisions during 2023 were engaged in “distracted driving behavior” and 62 of these distracted drivers were involved in fatal crashes. These figures are likely undercounts because drivers may not admit they were distracted or because a distracted driver died in a crash.

The 2023 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report and reports for previous years are available at azdot.gov/CrashFacts.

Two road workers hit and killed this month on state highways

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worker-safety-sign_originalPHOENIX — In the past 10 days, two people working on state highways have been hit and killed by vehicles. These unnecessary and avoidable tragedies illustrate the need for drivers to pay attention in work zones and to give a safe margin of space to vehicles with flashing lights, such as tow trucks and emergency responders.

To remind drivers of the importance of paying attention to their surroundings, ADOT will display the following message this week on overhead signs statewide:

2 ROAD WORKERS
KILLED THIS MONTH
DRIVE ALERT

When traveling in work zones, drivers should expect the unexpected, as normal speed limits may be reduced and people may be working in the road. They also should slow down, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and pay attention. Minimizing distractions could save a life.

Not only is it a safe practice to give space to emergency response vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles, it’s also the law. Arizona’s “Move Over” law requires motorists to move over one lane – or slow down if it is not safe to change lanes – when driving by any vehicle with flashing lights pulled to the side of the roadway.

Early Monday morning, a passenger car struck and killed an employee of a contractor working on an ADOT project as he removed barricades from Loop 101 Pima Freeway in Scottsdale. Earlier this month, a box truck hit and killed a tow company driver responding to a stalled vehicle on Interstate 10 near Benson.

One Vehicle Rollover Crash on Lake Mary Road Results in Two Deaths

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FLAGSTAFF — On May 18, 2015 at around 1:30 pm, the Sheriff/Police 911 Dispatch Center in Flagstaff received a report of a one vehicle rollover crash that occurred near milepost 328 Lake Mary Road. On scene responders found two female victims who had been ejected from the vehicle and were deceased, and a male who was trapped inside the vehicle and who was still responsive. First responders extricated the male who was then transported via air to Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC).

The three victims are siblings. The driver who was transported to FMC is 21 year old Nathan Bighorse. He is in stable condition. The two females who succumbed to injuries were his 9 year old and 13 year old sisters. The vehicle was a Chevy ½-ton pickup.

Responding agencies included Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Guardian Medical Ground, Guardian Air, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Blue Ridge Fire Department, and Highlands Fire Department.

At this time the cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office; speed is likely to have been a contributing factor.

Pedestrian Fatality in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — On Wednesday evening at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a vehicle and pedestrian collision which resulted in the death of the pedestrian on Fourth Street and Third Avenue, just south of the dedicated crosswalk at the intersection.

The deceased has been identified as 52 year old Franklin Morgan. Mr. Morgan had been attempting to cross the street and was struck by a south bound vehicle. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the driver’s actions.

Two Officers had been at the intersection of Fourth Street and Third Avenue when the collision occurred and witnessed the event. Lifesaving actions were taken, although the pedestrian succumbed to his injuries.

Motor-vehicle crash fatalities rose in 2013

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adot-2013-5PHOENIX – The number of deaths in motor-vehicle crashes across the state rose by 2.8 percent in 2013, according to annual statistics released by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

An analysis of law enforcement reports on crashes shows 844 people were killed last year on state and local highways and streets, compared to 821 fatalities in 2012. The highest annual number of motor-vehicle crash fatalities in Arizona – 1,301 – occurred in 2006.

ADOT’s 2013 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report lists a total of 107,348 crashes across Arizona in 2013, an increase of 3.3 percent compared to 2012 (103,909 crashes).

“Every driver holds the key to reducing crashes and saving lives,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “Our coalition of state, federal and local agencies will complete an updated Strategic Highway Safety Plan this summer to guide us in our continuing efforts to reduce the number and severity of crashes on all of Arizona’s public roadways.”

In late 2012, public safety agencies began the update the state’s highway safety plan, which was first adopted in 2007.

Fatal-crash categories with increases in 2013 included pedestrian and bicyclist crashes. Last year 158 pedestrians were killed, compared to 131 pedestrian fatalities in 2012 and 154 in 2011. Nearly 10 percent of all crashes involving pedestrians were fatal.

Meanwhile, 30 bicyclists were killed last year, compared to 18 in 2012 and 23 in 2011.

Annual figures also show 149 motorcycle riders or passengers died in Arizona last year, compared to 139 motorcycle-related deaths in 2012 and 132 in 2011.

Alcohol-related fatalities dropped by more than 7 percent last year compared to 2012. In 2013, 262 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. There were 283 such deaths in 2012 and 287 in 2011.

The total number of reported alcohol-related crashes was down from 5,460 in 2012 to 5,190 in 2013.

“The decrease in alcohol-related crashes and deaths is welcome news but doesn’t change our mission to stop impaired driving,” said Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Alberto Gutier. “Whether it’s our tougher laws, stepped up law enforcement or public awareness campaigns, we have to keep up the battle because nearly a third of the fatal crashes in the state last year were alcohol-related.”

As in past years, the most common driver violation cited by law enforcement officers was speed too fast for conditions.

Here are other figures from the 2013 Arizona Crash Facts report:

One person was killed in a motor-vehicle crash every 10.39 hours; an average of 2.31 people killed each day. 299 of the 844 people killed in motor-vehicle crashes were not wearing safety devices, including seat belts and helmets. Urban-area fatalities increased more than 12 percent last year with 443 deaths compared to 394 in 2012. Rural-area fatalities (401 deaths) decreased by 6 percent last year (compared to 427 in 2012). Single-vehicle crashes accounted for 17.75 percent of all crashes but also 39 percent of all fatal crashes. Crashes during daylight hours (6 a.m. – 6 p.m.) accounted for 73 percent of all crashes. Friday was the peak day of the week for all crashes during 2013, while November 22 was the peak date for all crashes with 737 crashes. Motor-vehicle crashes resulted in $2.99 billion in economic losses for Arizona.