Car Accidents Archives

Improving economy could impact recent reduction in Arizona car accidents

In 2008, Arizona traffic accidents totaled 119,588, including 842 fatal accidents that claimed 937 lives, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Total accidents declined by more than 15 percent, compared to the 141,092 crashes reported in 2007. Authorities will be watching the numbers carefully when the state releases 2009 figures in the coming weeks to see if that trend continues.While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports a reduction in traffic accidents nationwide, from 37,261 in 2008 to 33,963 in 2009, some experts point to the weak economy and high unemployment as primary causes and believe serious and fatal accidents will rebound with an economic recovery.

The stats in Arizona give validity to that argument:
2004: 138,899 crashes claimed 1,159 lives 2005: 140,574 crashes claimed 1,193 lives 2006: 143,093 crashes claimed 1,300 lives 2007: 141,092 crashes claimed 1,071 lives 2008: 119,588 crashes claimed 937 lives
With the upcoming publication of last year’s statistics, comparison to a number of 2008 metrics will be useful:

-Approximately 2.57 people a day were killed in Arizona traffic accidents; or one person every 9.36 hours.

-About 153 people a day were injured; or one person every 10 minutes.

-Alcohol was involved in about one-third of all fatal Arizona traffic accidents. Of those, 4 out of 5 occurred in urban areas.

-7 out of 10 crashes occurred during daylight hours.

-Arizona traffic crashes caused more than $2.8 billion in damages.

-33 children under the age of 14 were killed in motor vehicle accidents and 4,510 were injured.
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Mesa, Arizona police officer runs over and kills woman lying in street

by Dave Abels

In a bizarre Phoenix area pedestrian vs. car accident, a police officer in Mesa fatally hit a woman who was lying in the road on Thursday night, according to azcentral.com. The officer was heading east on Apache Trail in the area of 96th Street when he suddenly saw a pair of feet in front of him. He tried to stop in time, but could not avoid hitting her.

The woman, who has not yet been identified, was trapped under the unmarked police car after the accident. She was rushed by helicopter to Maricopa County Medical Center, but did not survive and was pronounced dead on arrival.

The woman was approximately 50 years old. After the accident a man claiming to be her boyfriend arrived at the accident site and said she had been drinking.

The accident is still being investigated by the Mesa Police Department.

Believe it or not, this type of accident does occur once in a while in Arizona. According to ADOT, in 2008 alone, 5 people were killed and 3 others were injured while laying in the road.

Mesa, Arizona car accidents reduced by traffic-enforcement camera program

by Dave Abels

Authorities credit red-light cameras for a 7 percent decline in Mesa car accidents last year, The Arizona Republic reported.

While the number of fatal crashes in 2009 remained flat at 29 compared to 2008, police contend photo enforcement at 36 intersections has reduced the overall number of serious Mesa traffic accidents. In addition to the intersection cams, the city has also deployed six stationary speed cameras and six photo-enforcement vans. Authorities review density maps and areas with a high number of collisions in determining where to place the cameras.Roadways most targeted include the most-traveled and longest streets in Mesa, including Southern Avenue, which has 10 cameras, and Broadway Road, which has five. Power Road also has five intersection cameras, while Stapley, Mesa and University drives each have four cameras.

Through Dec. 15 of last year, police used the cameras to issue 23,533 citations to drivers traveling 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit. More than 18,000 citations were issued to red-light runners during the same period.

The speeding fines cost drivers $171.25, which red-light runners were fined $218.50.

Of the speeding violations, Mesa Municipal Court reports that 8,488 were either dismissed by the police department or dismissed by the court because the driver wasn’t served the ticket. For red-light violations, 6,139 were dismissed.

Through the first four months of this year, about 27 percent fewer tickets have been issued; police hope part of the reason is because motorists are doing a better job of complying with the law, though they acknowledge some drivers are likely using extra caution because they are now aware of the cameras’ presence.

Either way, the program is having the intended impact of reducing Mesa car accidents.
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