Risk Factors for Arizona Motor Vehicle Crashes

July 17, 2019

Last year, based on statistics provided by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), someone in Arizona was injured in a car, truck or motorcycle accident every 9 minutes and 51 seconds ”“ that is 146 people a day! An injury crash happens in Arizona every 10 minutes! Know the risks when you drive.

What can you do to avoid becoming an injury crash statistic? First, you should become aware of the risk factors for accidents. If you know why and when accidents are more likely to happen you can prepare and take steps to prevent them.

Knowing the Risks When Driving

When driving a car or truck, your risk of an injury crash is highest at these times and in these situations, according to ADOT statistics:

• When: On Friday, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
• Where: In urban areas, on clear, dry, straight, level roads
• How: By rear-end collision often involving multiple vehicles
• Why: Due to someone driving at unsafe speed for the conditions

When riding a motorcycle, your risk of an injury crash is highest:

• When: On Friday, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Where: In urban areas, on clear, dry, straight, level roads
• How: The injury crash is often a rear-end accident or left-turn collision involving multiple vehicles and riders are wearing a helmet
• Why: Due to someone driving at unsafe speed for the conditions

Be Prepared when you drive

When you are stopped in traffic it is difficult to avoid being rear-ended by a careless, speeding or distracted driver. However, there is plenty you can do to AVOID causing an accident as most injury accidents last year were caused by driver error.

Drivers should do all of the following when behind the wheel:

• Focus all your attention on arriving to your destination SAFELY.
• Be especially careful during high-traffic, high-stress times.
• Watch your speed! Leave early, and when you are late, do not try to make up the time by driving faster.
• Do not operate your vehicle under conditions that make you uncomfortable or are beyond your skill limits.
• Do not follow too closely.
• Avoid distractions like cellphones, passenger conversations, eating, grooming, etc.
• Stay away from those who are speeding or driving erratically.

Additional Information

In 2018 in Arizona there were 127,056 car, truck or motorcycle crashes ”“ 36,507 injury crashes (53,376 drivers and passengers were injured) and 916 fatal crashes (1,010 drivers and passengers died).

Also, 104,404 crashes (82.2 percent) occurred in urban areas and 22,652 (17.8 percent) crashes occurred in rural areas.

These are the number of certain types of crashes that happened last year in Arizona:

Not wearing a seat belt dramatically increases the risk of injury. A total of 2,984 people who were not wearing seat belts were injured in crashes and 290 were killed.

The day with the highest risk for a fatal crash is Saturday between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.