Study Reveals Arizona Drivers are Among Nation’s Worst

December 7, 2016

Arizona has tied with Alabama as having the eighth worst drivers in the U.S., according to an annual study conducted by carinsurancecomparison.com.

The study uses data collected from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning fatal traffic accidents and their causes.

Each state was rated based on its fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled and four categories of dangerous driving behaviors:

• Failure to obey traffic signals, not wearing seat belts and having an invalid driver license
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Careless driving

Arizona drivers’ worst ranking was a tie between careless driving and failing to obey, while the state received its highest score for drunk driving. Arizona’s rankings for 2016 are:

• Failure to obey: fifth
• Careless driving: fifth
• Speeding: 19th
• Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 20th
• Drunk driving: 32nd

Careless driving alone is responsible for killing 170 people in Arizona in 2016, while 71 percent of fatal traffic accidents are caused by factors related to failure to obey.

While Arizona’s ranking is concerning, the state has improved since the 2015 study was released, when the state was ranked as having the sixth worst drivers in the nation. During that time, careless driving was also the Arizona’s leading cause of traffic fatalities.

The study comes amid a significant increase in traffic fatalities in 2016, reversing a declining trend over the past 15 years. The spike has been attributed to an increase in drivers on the road due to job growth and economic improvement. Distracted driving caused by using cellphones and electronic devices behind the wheel are also being credited for increasing fatal traffic accidents.

Traffic accidents can have a traumatic impact on those involved. The experienced car accident attorneys at the Phillips Law Group can help you recover if you have been injured or lost a loved one in a traffic accident. Through a free consultation, we can review your claim and determine if you have a case that entitles compensation. Our attorneys will not charge you any fees unless you receive a fair outcome.

Call 1-800-706-3000 or fill out a Free Case Evaluationform.