According to two years of data released by the US Department of Transportation, Arizona has one of the highest number of car accidents and drunken driving in the nation.
The state landed eighth overall in alcohol-related deaths in 2020 and 2021. The report was released this month.
Here’s what that data shows.
716: DUI Deaths in Arizona
According to data, there were 295 drunk driving-related deaths in Arizona in 2020, and another 421 deaths in 2021, for a total of 716 deaths in both years. According to NHTSA, this reflects a 43% increase from 2020 to 2021 data.
According to data, in 2021, 36% of traffic fatalities in Arizona were related to drunk driving.
8th place: Ranking of deaths due to drunk driving in Arizona
Below are the 10 states with the highest drunk driving death rates and their totals in 2020 and 2021.
- Texas – 3,439
- California – 2,550
- Florida – 1,910
- Ohio – 992
- North Carolina – 914
- Illinois – 841
- Georgia – 764
- Arizona – 716
- Tennessee – 678
- Pennsylvania – 655
2,233: Arizona traffic deaths from 2020 to 2021
Arizona ranks among the top 10 roadside fatalities with 1,053 in 2020 and 1,180 in 2021 for a total of 2,233 deaths.
In descending order, here is a summary of 2020-2021 totals for these states:
- Texas – 8,374
- California – 8,265
- Florida – 7,067
- Georgia – 3,455
- North Carolina – 2,588
- Ohio – 2,584
- Illinois – 2,527
- Tennessee – 2,544
- Pennsylvania – 2,359
- Arizona – 2,233
Traffic fatalities in the United States have risen steadily since 2019, when the annual total was 36,355, compared to 39,007 in 2020 and 42,939 in 2021.
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Arizona saw a 12% increase in road traffic casualties in 2021 compared to 2020. Data show that this is slightly above the 10% increase nationwide.
248: Pedestrian Fatalities in Arizona in 2021
Here’s a list of the top Arizona road fatalities over the past two years, sorted by fatalities. The first chart represents the year 2020 and the second chart represents the year 2021.
- Passenger car occupants – 280, 307
- Light Truck Occupants – 236, 295
- Pedestrians – 222, 248
- Motorcyclist – 161, 150
- Pedal cyclists (cyclists without motorized vehicles) – 33, 45
