Where’s the worst place to drive in the nation? If you’re like most people, you may automatically picture the crowded highways in Florida or the interstate in New York where traffic never stops. But the reality is that Arizona is actually home to the deadliest interstates in the United States.
The latest report from TRIP, a national transportation research organization, says that the U.S. interstate system as a whole needs to be modernized, better controlled and restructured for numerous reasons, including crumbling roads, decaying or aged bridges and increased congestion from vehicles of all kinds.
However, the report also looks at specific signs of problems in each state, including traffic fatality rates. Arizona recorded 1.09 deaths for every 100 million miles that drivers in the state clocked in 2018. Mississippi was next in line, with 1.00 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, and all other states were below that rate of loss.
Why are the traffic fatalities so high in Arizona? Experts say that it has a lot to do with enforcement efforts and people’s behavior. Maybe the wide-open roads in Arizona are what coaxes some drivers into speeding, but other problems include drivers who get behind the wheel while they’re impaired, distracted drivers, wrong-way crashes and other problems. Arizona has also seen a 15% rise in travel since 2000.
Whatever the ultimate reason (or reasons) behind the rise in deadly accidents, it’s smart for every driver in this state to be aware of the problem and cognizant of their own responsibilities behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
Unfortunately, no matter what precautions you take, you can still end up in a devastating crash due to another driver’s foolish mistakes. If that happens, make sure that you have an experienced attorney by your side while you seek compensation for your losses.
