Crash Facts for Arizona
In 2019, Arizona welcomed more than 120,000 new residents. That amounts to a growth rate of about 1.7 percent! Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that Arizona’s total car/vehicle accidents also increased by about 1.6 percent. While there is always room for improvement, there are some stats that have shown recognized progress, particularly with respect to fatality accidents. Below are 10 of the most interesting statistics regarding vehicle accidents in Arizona for the year 2019 according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Arizona’s Quick Glance – Top 10 Stats for 2019
- Motor vehicle crashes resulted in $18.442 billion in economic losses to Arizona.
- Approximately 2.69 persons were killed each day.
- One person was killed every 8 hours and 56 minutes.
- One person was injured every 9 minutes and 46 seconds
- Crashes which occurred during daylight hours (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) accounted for 72.3% of all crashes.
- Single vehicle crashes accounted for 14.38% of all crashes and 35.24% of all fatal crashes
- Of all Pedestrian crashes, 11.78% were fatal while 2.35% of Pedalcycle crashes were fatal.
- Alcohol Related crashes accounted for 3.78% of all crashes and 25.69% of all fatal crashes
- Of all alcohol related crashes, 84.63% occurred in Urban areas and 15.37% occurred in Rural areas, while 62.39% of all alcohol related fatal crashes occurred in Urban areas and 37.61% occurred in Rural areas.
- Children age 14 and younger accounted for 32 fatalities and 3,182 injuries in motor vehicle crashes
More Details, Highlights and Historical Trends
Total Motor Vehicle Crashes in Arizona for the 2019 Calendar year
In 2019, there was a total of 129,750 motor vehicle crashes in Arizona. This number includes crashes involving only one vehicle or between two or more vehicles. Additionally, this number includes motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians and pedacyclists. Compared to Arizona’s 2018 statistics, 127,712 total crashes, there has been an increase by approximately 1.6%.
Total Fatal Crashes in Arizona for the 2019 Calendar Year
Of the above 129,750 total motor vehicle accidents, 911 were fatal. There was a total of 982 fatalities in 2019, meaning some of the accidents involved more than one fatality. To put this in perspective, in 2019 one person was killed every 8 hours and 56 minutes due to a motor vehicle accident. While this number might seem shocking, Arizona’s total traffic collision fatalities decreased to a three-year low in 2019—down from 918 in 2018 and 917 in 2017. What is more, fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is also down 8.58%.
Moreover, distracted driving fatalities fell from 11,898 in 2018 to 10,491 in 2019. This is nearly a 12% decrease! Why the decrease in distracted driving fatalities? While it’s impossible to know for sure, In April 2019, Gov. Doug Ducey signed HB 213 , which banned texting while driving. Studies have shown that the likelihood of a crash or a near-crash increases 23 times when texting while driving.
Total Alcohol Related Crashes in Arizona for the 2019 Calendar Year
Of the 129,750 motor vehicle crashes in Arizona in 2019, 4,907 were alcohol related and 256 of these alcohol related crashes were fatal. What this means is alcohol related crashes accounted for 3.78% of all crashes and 25.69% of all fatal crashes in Arizona.
While this number may seem high, Arizona reported the lowest alcohol-related deaths in 2019 since 2010 and has dropped 3.4% since 2018. These reductions were accomplished despite an increase of 67,034 licensed drivers from 2018 to 2019.
Total Speed Related Crashes in Arizona for the 2019 Calendar year
In 2019, there were 43,041 motor vehicle accidents involving vehicles speeding too fast for the conditions. Of these, 194 were fatal. Speeding was the most common type of violation in 2019. It accounted for 16.86% of the total violations with “failure to yield right-of-way” coming in as second most common violation.
Economic Loss Due to Motor Vehicle Crashes in Arizona for the 2019 Calendar Year
It has been estimated that in 2019 the total economic loss due to motor vehicle crashes amounted to $18,441,966,981. Of the $18.442 billion-dollar estimate, fatal car crashes accounted for $9,344,094,322; suspected serious injuries were estimated around $1,960,326,939; suspected minor injuries at $3,155,633,120; possible injuries were estimated to cost around $3,000,281,760; and accidents that caused only property damage cost $981,630,840.
Maricopa County had the greatest economic loss of all counties in Arizona with an estimate of $18,441,966,981. This makes sense as Maricopa is by far Arizona’s most populous county, encompassing well over half of the State’s residents. Pima County had the second greatest economic loss with an estimate of $2,245,044,404. This should come as no surprise as Pima County is Arizona’s second most populous county.
Peak crashes by Hour, Day and month of the week in Arizona for 2019 Calendar Year
The most common time for an accident to occur in 2019 was between 3 pm and 5 pm on a weekday and between 6 pm and 8 pm on a weekend. The peak day for all crashes was Friday and the peak month for all crashes was October. It was further determined that the peak date for all crashes in 2019 occurred on Thursday, February 14th with a total of 635 crashes.
Additionally, the peak hour for fatal crashes occurred between 7 pm – 8 pm, with April being the peak month for fatal crashes.
Total Crashes by Age in Arizona for 2019 Calendar Year
The largest number of car accidents occurred with drivers ages 25-34 years old. In 2019 there were 54,566 total accidents where the driver was between the ages of 25-34 years old. While drivers in that age range make up 17.41% of total licensed drivers, they account for around 21.38% of total accidents. In comparison, drivers ages 55-64 make up 17.36% of total licensed drivers, however, they only account for 10.99% of total accidents.
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Arizona’s 2020 crash report should be one for the books! It has already been reported that car crashes are down 75% in Phoenix metro areas due to COVID-19. With more people working from home and avoiding interaction, it is no surprise that there have been fewer cars on the road, therefore, fewer accidents. Auto insurance companies are recognizing that less frequent driving comes with fewer claims, therefore, many have credited customer’s monthly premiums to account for the reduction in daily transportation and frequently cancelled travel plans.
At Harris Powers & Cunningham PLLC we have been protecting the rights of the injured since 1981, handling virtually every type of auto accident claim during that time ― from rollover car accidents and rear-end collisions to motorcycle crashes and trucking accidents. If you or a loved one was injured by a negligent motorist, seek help from lawyers who have the skills to handle your case.
Take the first step to obtaining the compensation you deserve ― contact us today. Schedule your FREE consultation today by calling us at 602-910-6779. You can also email us online.
