The economic impact of vehicular mishaps in the state of Arizona has reached a staggering sum of nearly $6 billion a year, according to a recent study published by the Advocates of Highway and Auto Safety. With the comprehensive accounting of lost workplace productivity, medical expenditures, property damage, and others, the financial burden of car crashes on Arizonians tallies up to an approximate individual cost of $817 annually, as detailed by ABC15.
As per the findings, which has seen more than 1,300 lives claimed in 2023 alone, over the cap of the last ten years, the death toll has risen above 10,000. The report, shedding light on these grim figures, recommended the implementation of several traffic safety laws. Notable among these are the institution of a motorcycle helmet law and booster seat law, and the introduction of stricter learner's permit restrictions, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.
The report also contrasts the uptick in fatal incidents on Arizona roads against the recent decrease in traffic-related fatalities on a national scale. According to the Advocates of Highway and Auto Safety, the last full years of data from 2022 and 2023 have marked the deadliest on record for Arizona, with over 2,600 fatalities. Cathy Chase, president of the organization, highlighted a troubling trend, "Unfortunately, Arizona’s overall fatality numbers have been going up at a time when nationally the numbers have been decreasing slightly," she told ABC15.
In the state of Arizona, not wearing a seatbelt currently registers as a secondary violation, wherein drivers can only receive citations if already committing a primary violation, like speeding. The report suggests reclassifying seatbelt compliance as a primary traffic offense, to convey its importance for drivers' safety. "It’s the wrong message to be sending to people in Arizona. It’s saying it’s not that important to wear a seat belt. That you should, but kind of don’t have to,” Chase expressed during the interview with ABC15.
