Traffic Fatalities in Arizona Decrease Slightly in 2023 but Remain High

Traffic fatalities in Arizona decreased by 0.98% in 2023, with 1,307 recorded deaths.Photo byMatt ConUnsplash

PHOENIX – Traffic fatalities in Arizona decreased slightly in 2023 but remain near record highs, according to the 2023 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report.

Each year, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) compiles road traffic collision data from all Arizona roadways.

Driver behavior, including speeding and impairment, is a primary factor in crashes and fatalities.

In 2023, the state recorded 1,307 traffic fatalities, a 0.98% decrease from 2022.

Speed-related crashes resulted in 446 fatalities and 20,682 injuries, in 2023, accounting for 34.1% and 38.2% of the totals, respectively.

Alcohol-related fatalities have risen each year for the past four years, with 332 deaths in 2023, representing 25.4% of all traffic fatalities.

There were more fatalities on local roads (828) than on state highways (479), with urban areas seeing nearly twice as many fatalities (853) as rural areas (454).

Distracted driving was identified in 8,657 crashes, with 62 of these involving fatalities.

Male drivers were involved in 72.7% of alcohol-related crashes, and drivers aged 25 to 34 accounted for 35.4%.

Motorcyclist fatalities reached 258 in 2023, an 11.2% increase from 2022 and the highest in at least 20 years.

Notably, since 2019, motorcycle registrations in Arizona have increased by 33%, from 209,719 to 279,569, according to the ADOT report.

ADOT Director Jennifer Toth emphasized the need for collective efforts to reduce preventable crashes: "Every fatality represents someone’s loved one. We need everyone using the roads to work together to reduce these preventable crashes."

Jesse Torrez, Director of the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, added, "Speed, distracted driving, and safety device usage are conscious choices. These choices can save lives. We have to remind ourselves and others to take a moment and think about home."