Data Analysis: Overview of Arizona Motor Vehicle Crashes (Part 2/2)

In the first segment of our study on Arizona crash statistics, we explored the ages of drivers involved in crashes, gender and ages of passengers killed in accidents, types of vehicles involved in collisions, and more. Following up where we left off, we break down the statistics on crashes by Arizona county, nationwide accident statistics, and accident investigation expenditures by agency, amongst other features.

Arizona Car Accident Resources

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Crashes By Arizona County in 2020
Fatal Accident Statistics in the U.S. in 2020
Seat Belt Survey, 2006-2019
What is “Buckle Up Arizona?”
Accident Investigation Expenses By Agency
Steps to Follow After a Car Accident

Crashes By Arizona County in 2020

Arizona saw 98,778 total motor vehicle crashes in 2020, of which 970 resulted in fatalities. Maricopa led all Arizona counties in all crash statistics, from the number of collisions to the number of injury victims. In fact, a staggering 72.50% of the state’s crashes occurred in Maricopa County. Greenlee County experienced the least crashes, with only 69 total collisions (.07% of statewide accidents) and no fatalities.

Comparing Fatal Accidents Across the United States in 2020

As of April 1^st, 2020, Arizona was estimated to be the 14^th most-populated state in the U.S., according to the United States® Census Bureau. Arizona’s estimated population at that time was 7,151,502 and the leading state, California, had an estimated population of 39,538,223. During that year, Arizona had both the 12^th-highest death rate via car accident (per 100,00 people) and 12^th-highest number of deaths of all states.

Seat Belt Survey, 2006-2019

Every year, states are allocated a budget to perform an annual seat belt survey. The survey is aimed at providing better protection for drivers by improving seat belt usage statewide. In Arizona, the final percentages are used as performance indicators in the Highway Safety Plan and Annual Report. Due to the difficulties of gathering data with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, Arizona took advantage of a special CARES ACT waiver to forego the 2020 seat belt survey. Instead, the state elected to use the previous year’s data as a stand-in for fiscal year 2020.

We plotted seat belt usage statistics in Arizona from 2006 through 2019 in the chart below. Overall seat belt usage in 2019 was at the highest it’s been over the selected timeframe, at 90.6%. This marks a 5.47% increase from 2018’s overall seat belt usage of 85.9%. Both drivers and passengers used a seat belt more frequently in 2019, which is an encouraging sign for the future.

What is “Buckle Up Arizona?”

In 2019, 214 traffic-related deaths occurred due to an unrestrained occupant. For years, states and the federal government have sought to reduce traffic-related fatalities by increasing seat belt and child safety seat usage. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) in Arizona works to increase seat belt usage through education campaigns and statewide enforcement under the slogan “Buckle Up Arizona…It’s the Law!” Funding, including overtime funding, is provided to participating law enforcement agencies by the GOHS during related traffic enforcement campaigns.

Since 2017, the number of participating law enforcement agencies in Buckle Up Arizona has increased, rising from 24 to 27 in 2020. According to reports from law enforcement agencies, seat belt citations, DUI arrests, and moving violations all decreased from 2019 to 2020. The impact of COVID-19 on nonessential travel likely played a role in this substantial decrease.

Accident Investigation Expenses by Agency

The state of Arizona budgets for accident investigation resources, training, and assets on an annual basis. Law enforcement agencies in larger metropolitan areas are generally awarded more funding, since they require a larger task force and more assets than their smaller counterparts. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (CSO) received the largest amount of obligated and actual funds of any individual county agency, at $45,000 and $42,185, respectively.

Steps to Follow After a Car Accident

To wrap up our article, we want to provide a brief guide on the steps to take if you are involved in a collision. We understand that even a minor wreck can be incredibly stressful and encourage you to stay calm and follow these guidelines.

1. Determine whether anyone has been injured.
2. Get yourself and your vehicle out of the flow of traffic and to a safe location.
3. Contact the local authorities.
4. Take photos of the scene and take down the contact information of witnesses.
5. Call a tow truck or wrecker truck as needed.
6. Visit a doctor as soon as possible. Even if you feel fine, you or a passenger may have suffered internal injuries that could take hours, days, or weeks to show symptoms.
7. Speak to a personal injury attorney and your insurance company.

Sources Cited

https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/media/2021/07/2020-crash-facts.pdf
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/az_fy2020_ar_1.pdf