Vehicle accidents are not uncommon throughout the state of Arizona. Anybody who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle knows this.
How often do you pass by accidents either on the road or along the roadside?
Whether or not you have been involved in an accident recently, would you want to take a guess at the most common causes of vehicle accidents in Arizona? Chances are, you could name a few. Here, we want to discuss the top five causes of car accidents in the state in the hopes that you have a better understanding of the steps you need to take to remain safe on the roadway. During the latest reporting year in this state, there were nearly 130,000 total vehicle collisions reported, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
1. Speeding and Reckless Driving
The Arizona DOT says that more than 43,000 total collisions during the latest reporting year were the result of speeding. This can include operating above the speed limit or simply driving too fast for the conditions on the roadway. 16.86% of all collisions during the reporting year were the result of speed-related incidents. Out of these collisions, there were 194 fatal crashes and more than 13,000 injury crashes.
2. Distracted driving
The AZ DOT says that there was a range of driver distractions that caused collisions during the latest reporting year. This includes talking on a handheld device, talking on a hands-free device, texting and driving, browsing the Internet or email while driving, and more. Distracted driving is incredibly dangerous because it takes a person’s eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, and their mind off of driving.
3. Impaired driving
The DOT in Arizona shows us that there were nearly 5,000 total collisions involving alcohol-impaired drivers. Out of these incidents, there were 256 fatalities and nearly 3,000 injuries. Alcohol-impaired driving results in a significant percentage of all traffic fatalities each year across the state of Arizona.
The blood alcohol content legal level for the state of Arizona is .08%. However, a person can actually be impaired if their blood alcohol is below this level – it really does depend on a person’s individual body type and physiology. Additionally, impairment does not only mean alcohol is involved. Individuals can also be impaired by both illegal narcotics as well as legal prescription medications.
4. Driver fatigue
Data from the state of Arizona also shows us that fatigued driving results in dangerous roadway conditions in the state. During the latest reporting year, law enforcement officials determined that 1,696 people fell asleep or were fatigued behind the wheel and caused a collision.
5. Vehicle failure
We rely on our vehicles to be safe vessels, and we count on others around us to keep their vehicles in good working order. Unfortunately, there are times when vehicle failure occurs, and this can lead to serious collisions on the roadway. In many cases, vehicle failure is the result of drivers failing to adequately maintain their property. However, there are also times when vehicles are defective due to mistakes made by companies or manufacturers. Some of the most common vehicle failures that cause accidents on the roadway include brake failure, steering system failure, headlight or brake light failure, tire or wheel failure, and more.
