PHOENIX – As more people began getting back to traveling in 2021, the number of traffic fatalities rose for a second straight year to their highest levels in 15 years, according to the most recent Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report published Wednesday, Sept. 7.

The number of those killed in traffic collisions rose from 1,054 in 2020 to 1,180 in 2021, an increase of 12%. The total number of traffic crashes also rose by 22% as people drove an estimated 8.1 billion more miles last year than in 2020. 

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.

The 2021 report shows an increase in all categories in terms of number of crashes, injuries and fatalities over 2020 as more people began to travel once again to work, school and other places. A month-by-month breakdown in the crash report shows an overall increase in the number of crashes as the year went on, with October being the peak month for crashes.

Fatalities are driven mostly by driver behavior. Speed was a factor in 30% of all fatalities last year, and impairment was a factor in nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities in 2021. Not wearing seat belts was a factor in almost one quarter of all fatalities. This illustrates that real change must begin in the driver’s seat.

Reducing crashes, fatalities and injuries can’t be solved by state agencies alone because more than two-thirds of crashes occur on roads other than state highways.

Alcohol-related crashes rose sharply in 2021 with 5,620 crashes, a number not seen since 2009, which had 5,905 crashes. The number of alcohol-related fatalities also saw a slight rise with 243 deaths in 2021 compared to 228 in 2020 – a 6.5% increase reversing recent downward trends in alcohol-related fatalities between 2017 and 2020. 

Bicycle-related fatalities also increased considerably with 45 fatalities in 2021, a 41% increase over the 32 deaths in 2020. Bicycle-related fatalities have risen each year since 2018.

The 2021 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report is available at azdot.gov/CrashFacts.

PHOENIX – While all-terrain vehicles are a popular way to explore off-road areas, the Arizona Department of Transportation reminds ATV riders it is illegal and unsafe to drive these vehicles along state roadways.

The shoulders of state highways are only to be used only for emergencies, not for joyrides.

ATV users create many hazards when they drive on shoulders. At a minimum, they are a distraction to passenger and commercial traffic on the highway. At driveways and on sharp curves, they can surprise other drivers and lead to near-misses or crashes. And on unpaved shoulders, ATV riders can kick up dust that blinds drivers who are traveling at highway speeds.

ATV use also damages the areas along highways. The vehicles destroy vegetation and erode unpaved areas, which can cause steep drop-offs at the edge of pavement and at driveways. When enough damage occurs, ADOT maintenance crews are needlessly diverted from other important functions as they work to repair damage from off-road vehicles.

The problem applies no matter where ATV riders are improperly using highway shoulders, but the issue is more pronounced in certain areas. This includes State Route 188 in the Tonto Basin, where curves and elevation changes only make the problem more pronounced. Also northwest of Wickenburg, heavy ATV use is an issue along SR 89 between US 93 and SR 71.

ADOT reminds off-road vehicle operators they can be cited for illegal use of highway shoulders, including for damage to state or private land.

KINGMAN – In order to improve safety along State Route 68 in Golden Valley near Kingman, the Arizona Department of Transportation will begin a project to install a raised median with eight new access points between Verde and Bacobi roads beginning Monday, Aug. 16.

Work will occur overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday evenings through Friday mornings. At least one lane of travel will remain open in each direction; however, drivers should prepare for delays of up to 15 minutes. Business access will be maintained at all times during construction.

The intersections along SR 68 at Verde, Aztec and Bacobi roads will be regular, full-access intersections with left turns in both directions. The intersections at Hope and Houck roads will have left-turn lane access in both directions.

Finally, Green T intersections will be constructed at Marana, Mayer and Adobe roads. The design of these Green T intersections will have a dedicated left-turn bay for eastbound traffic on SR 68. Vehicles turning left from Marana, Mayer and Adobe roads will use a channelized receiving lane to accelerate and merge onto eastbound SR 68.

The purpose of this project is to improve safety along the corridor by improving access management and minimizing crossover crashes.

The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall.

For more information, visit azdot.gov/SR68VerdetoBacobi.

PHOENIX – Motorists in Sierra Vista and Huachuca City will benefit from two traffic signal improvements that will enhance safety in the neighboring communities, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

In Huachuca City, a new emergency services traffic beacon on State Route 90 at School Drive that will improve emergency response time by stopping traffic when law enforcement or fire vehicles enter the highway. Drivers should be aware of this new safety feature and be prepared to stop on SR 90 when the beacon is activated. The beacon will begin operating as soon as striping operations have been completed. 

The emergency services traffic beacon operates much like a pedestrian hybrid beacon, a traffic control device where the lenses only light up when there is a need to stop traffic. The signal then initiates a yellow to red sequence consisting of steady and flashing lights that direct motorists to come to a stop. Once the emergency vehicles have entered the highway, the beacon lights go dark.

In Sierra Vista, ADOT recently added left-turn signals at the intersection of SR 92 and Canyon De Flores. The signals allow drivers on Canyon De Flores to make protected left turns onto SR 92, which enhances safety and improves the flow of traffic. Left-turn arrows are already in place for drivers on SR 92 who make turns onto Canyon De Flores. 

The safety enhancements follow other recent traffic signal upgrades in the Sierra Vista area. This summer, ADOT upgraded traffic signal cabinets and detection along the SR 90 and SR 92 corridors at 18 intersections, ranging from East Gate to Hereford to Monson Road. The new equipment ensures reliable traffic signal operation while allowing ADOT to collect traffic data for an upcoming project to improve traffic flow with new signal timing and coordination plans.

Funding for the emergency services beacon in Huachuca City was provided by the Sierra Vista Metropolitan Planning Organization.