There were nearly 50,000 car crashes in 2018, according to the Department of Transportation Crash Facts Summary. That’s approximately 136 crashes every single day.
Fatalities occurred in 234 of these crashes, while injuries were reported in 11,823. Alcohol played a factor in 1,253 of the crashes. In Maricopa County, there were 1,321 pedestrian crashes during 2018, and 954 bicycle accidents. In fact, “crashes in Maricopa County accounted for 73.84 percent of all crashes and 50.98 percent of fatal crashes” in the state, according to the report.
Interstates 10 and 17 were hotspots for crashes because of the higher rates of traffic and the higher rates of speed. Many crashes happen during the weekend, accounting for nearly 25% of all crashes and 40% of all fatal crashes. Rush hour also sees the majority of crashes, with many happening between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and again between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to ADOT.
Some recent car accidents include:
September 4, 2019: One man killed after semi-trucks were toppled by strong winds along Interstate 10.
September 3, 2019: One pedestrian killed after being hit by a vehicle at 16th Street and Indian School Road.
August 24, 2019: A fatal crash occurred after a single-vehicle incident on Indian School Road and 15th Avenue.
August 24, 2019: One pedestrian killed after being hit by a pickup truck near 21st Street and Bell Road.
August 23, 2019: One motorcyclist in critical condition after rear ending a vehicle on Thomas Road and Seventh Street.
August 22, 2019: One fatality near 43rd Avenue and Van Buren Street.
August 15, 2019: Fatal crash near 19th Avenue and Thomas Road. One man was killed when his vehicle crossed lanes into oncoming traffic.
What Causes Car Accidents?
There are many factors that contribute to car accidents in the city. However, here are a few of the top reasons that accidents occur.
Distraction. Distracted drivers contribute to a significant number of accidents each year. A distracted driver is less likely to notice the car ahead of him coming to an abrupt stop. Texting while driving is a common distraction, as is eating and drinking while driving and also being distracted by a passenger inside the car.
Speeding. Drivers who speed on the road are less likely to be able to stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision, even if they have plenty of time to notice brake lights. Speed contributed to 41,650 crashes in 2018, according to ADOT.
Failure to Yield to Right-of-Way. Failing to yield at a stoplight, stop sign, or other right of way contributed to more than 21,000 crashes in 2018. These types of violations lead to T-bone crashes, head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, and more, and can be very dangerous and deadly.