While traffic fatalities and crashes rose in Arizona in 2021 for the second straight year, traffic fatalities in Pima County slightly decreased, reports by the Arizona Department of Transportation show.
On Sept. 7, ADOT published its annual Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report, which shows an increase in the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities. This is due to more people traveling to work, school and other places once again. In 2021, people in Arizona drove an estimated 8.1 billion more miles than in 2020.
According to the report, Arizona saw a total of 121,345 crashes in 2021, a 22% increase from 2020. Out of those crashes, there was 1,180 fatalities and 51,633 injuries. In 2020, there was 99,100 crashes, 1,054 fatalities and 41,540 injuries.
Traffic fatalities in 2021 were mostly driven by driver behavior. Speed was a factor in 30% of all fatalities while impairment made up one-third of fatalities, the report said.
Alcohol-related crashes also rose in 2021 with a total of 5,620, which is a number that hasn’t been seen in Arizona since 2009. The total number of alcohol-related fatalities was 243, a 6.5% increase from 2020.
October 2021 was revealed to be the month with greatest number of crashes in Arizona. The report also said that Fridays were the day of the week with the most crashes. On weekdays, crashes usually happened between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends.
Despite the increase in fatalities in Arizona, Pima County saw a slight decrease in deaths in 2021 over 2020. The total number of traffic fatalities was 161. In 2020, there was 163 deaths.
There were also 10,872 crashes in Pima County and 5,432 injuries. In 2020, there was 8,841 crashes and 3,041 injuries.
While fatalities decreased, other types of crashes increased in Pima County. Alcohol related crashes rose from 578 to 704, with a total of 49 fatalities in 2021.
Pedestrian crashes also increased from 2020. In 2021, there was a total of 243 pedestrian crashes in Pima County. Together, Maricopa County and Pima County accounted for 81.32% of pedestrian deaths seen in Arizona in 2021.
There was also 137 pedalcyclist crashes, with seven deaths, and 336 motorcycle crashes with 17 deaths in Pima County.
Similar to Pima County, bicycle related fatalities increased 41% in Arizona. Bicycle-related fatalities have been steadily increasing each year since 2018, the report said.
When it comes to reducing crashes, fatalities and injuries, ADOT said it can’t be solved by state agencies alone because more than two thirds of crashes happen on roads other than state highways. Since most fatalities are driven by driver behavior, ADOT said that the real change must begin in the driver’s seat.
Photos: 15+ clever freeway signs aimed at keeping Arizona drivers safe
This message, inspired by the "Cha Cha Slide," won ADOT's 2022 safety message contest. Over 3,000 entries were submitted in the contest.
This reggae-inspired sign was one of the winners of ADOT's 2022 safety message contest.
This message was displayed on Oct. 3, 2022 in honor of the movie "Mean Girls," which includes a reference to that date in an oft-quoted scene.
This sign was one of three food-themed ones motorists saw around Thanksgiving last year.
Arizona motorists traveling around Christmas this year might see this sign while driving on local highways.
This Christmastime rhyme is just one of several messages ADOT is displaying this year.
Another festive pun used by ADOT to promote driving safety.
This ADOT sign was recently displayed for Hanukkah this year, which began the evening of Nov. 28 and lasts until Dec. 6.
This sign was one of three food-themed ones motorists saw around Thanksgiving this year.
This sign was one of three food-themed ones motorists saw around Thanksgiving this year.
It's not a trick... ADOT treated drivers to this message on Halloween in 2020.
Another Halloween-related sign that grabbed the attention of Arizona drivers was introduced in October 2017.
ADOT used lyrics from the song "You Will Be Found" from the hit Broadway musical "Dear Evan Hansen" when the show came to Arizona State University's Gammage theater in November 2018.
Keeping with the "Dear Evan Hansen" theme, ADOT paid homage to the musical with another sign featuring lyrics from the show.
Anyone who is familiar with Taylor Swift may recognize ADOT's nod to the pop star's songs "Bad Blood" and "Shake It Off" seen in May 2018 before the singer kicked off her Reputation album tour at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
This sign was one of the top two in the 2019 Arizona Department of Transportation Safety Message Contest. Mitzie Warner, who came up with the message, got to type it into the sign system and have it displayed over state highways in June 2019.
David Posey's safety message reminds people to avoid driving drunk and was the other winner in ADOT's 2019 sign contest.
Scott and Paula Cullymore of Mesa came up with this Dr. Seuss-inspired safety message that won ADOT’s Safety Message Contest in 2020.
A previous winner's message on Arizona's Loop 101 in 2017.
