A combination of less than ideal road conditions and design, traffic density, irresponsible driving and pedestrian habits resulted in 23,698 Arizona car accidents last year. Arizona offers beautiful weather, landscapes and sunsets, but distracting some Arizonans from those gifts are the dangerous roads and driving environments.
A combination of less than ideal road conditions and design, traffic density, irresponsible driving and pedestrian habits resulted in 23,698 Arizona car accidents last year. While that number is the lowest it’s been since 2000, Arizona still has significant room for improvement.
Nationwide, Arizona had the 13th highest amount of traffic fatalities in 2008. In 2006, an average of 3 people died on Arizona roads every day, and in Phoenix alone, 540 pedestrians were injured and 51 killed.
To avoid accidents and injury, both Arizona drivers and pedestrians need to be proactive and speak out. If someone has complaints of the road conditions of a specific location, they should report them to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
Roads and their conditions are variable. The best bet to ensure road safety is for drivers and pedestrians to know and follow the laws of the road, an option that is always in their control. When roads are noticeably damaged or the weather and time of day worsen driving conditions, more caution should be used than usual and in-car distractions reduced as much as possible.
Arizona government and organizations have taken notice of the road dangers and are working towards positive change. For example, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Council supports the Arizona Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The project started in 2005 and aims to reduce the number of Arizona traffic fatalities. By the year 2012, its goal is to see a 12 percent drop in that number compared to 2007.
The AARP and the Institute of Transportation Engineers in Arizona collaborated in order to assess certain crowded and reportedly dangerous Phoenix intersections and roads. While their work considered the safety of a more focused group of seniors, the study’s focus on road accessibility and safety delivered findings that will help all Arizonans.
These projects are hopefully only a couple of the many future actions that will foster a safer road environment in Arizona and save lives on the road.
If you have been involved or injured in an accident due to poor road conditions and/or an irresponsible driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. A lawyer can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
