Latest Arizona Crash Statistics Updated for 2025

Arizona Crash Statistics Updated for 2025

If you’ve spent any time on Arizona roads lately, especially in Phoenix, you’ve likely seen the flashing lights, backed-up traffic, or even witnessed a crash firsthand. It’s no secret that driving here can feel more like a gamble than a routine. But recent numbers suggest there’s a shift happening — one that’s worth paying attention to.

So, are Arizona’s roads actually becoming safer, or is it just a momentary dip in an otherwise dangerous trend? Let’s take a closer look at the newest fatality estimates, what 2023 taught us, and what these numbers mean for everyday drivers

What 2024 Told Us About Arizona’s Crash Crisis

According to the 2024 Arizona Crash Facts Summary, the state reported 121,107 motor vehicle crashes. That included 1,117 fatal crashes and 37,376 injury crashes, along with another 82,614 collisions that caused property damage only — crashes that may not make headlines, but still leave victims facing insurance disputes, rental car costs, and repair delays.

While the fatality count is slightly down from 2023’s 1,198 deaths, it’s still deeply troubling. That’s more than three people losing their lives every day on Arizona roads in crashes that, in most cases, were preventable. And though deaths declined, the total number of crashes shows we’re far from seeing real safety progress.

On average in 2024, Arizona experienced:

  • Over 331 crashes per day statewide
  • More than 102 crashes involving injuries daily
  • At least 3 fatal crashes every single day.

Whether the cause was speed, distracted driving, or alcohol, the factors behind these crashes are all too familiar and all too avoidable.

What Types of Collisions Are Happening in Arizona?

Not all crashes are alike, and the type of impact often shapes how severe the outcome is. In 2024, the vast majority of Arizona crashes — more than 94,500 — involved a collision with another moving vehicle, making it by far the most common crash type. These accounted for 458 deaths and more than 43,000 injuries, often occurring on busy multi-lane roads, highways, and intersections where drivers misjudge speed, space, or signals.

But it doesn’t stop there.

  • Pedestrian collisions caused 249 deaths and nearly 1,900 injuries, underlining how dangerous Arizona roads still are for people on foot.
  • Bicycle collisions accounted for 44 deaths and over 1,300 injuries, with most incidents happening in urban zones lacking protected bike lanes.
  • Overturning crashes, often linked to high-speed single-vehicle rollovers, caused 120 deaths, despite making up just 2% of all incidents.
  • Animal-related crashes, while typically nonfatal, still resulted in 5 deaths and nearly 380 injuries, many on rural highways.

Other severe crash types included striking fixed or non-fixed objects, vehicle fires, and rare but deadly non-collision events like vehicle immersion or jackknife accidents.

The takeaway? Most crashes are preventable, and often start with a simple mistake: a distracted glance, a quick lane change, or speeding through a yellow light. But depending on what (or who) you collide with, the consequences vary dramatically. Knowing these risks is the first step to driving defensively and holding others accountable when they don’t.

Top Counties: Maricopa Leads Arizona’s Crash Statistics

Once again, Maricopa County accounted for the lion’s share of statewide crashes. It’s home to Arizona’s most densely traveled roadways, including high-speed corridors and urban bottlenecks that often turn into crash hotspots. Here are the counties with the highest crash totals last year:

Top 5 Counties by Total Crashes in 2024:

County Total Crashes Fatal Crashes Injury Crashes Killed Injured
Maricopa 88,094 560 25,990 594 37,649
Pima 8,867 168 3,469 182 5,089
Pinal 5,702 82 2,005 93 2,998
Coconino 3,522 53 1,030 65 1,511
Mohave 3,421 45 1,077 48 1,576

These five counties alone account for over 91% of all crashes statewide, with Maricopa leading by a massive margin — more than 7 in every 10 crashes statewide happened in Maricopa County.

Arizona Cities with the Highest Crash Rates in 2024

While counties give us the broad view, it’s in the cities where these crashes play out every day — in neighborhoods, at busy intersections, and on freeways where seconds can change lives. The 2024 data shows that Arizona’s urban centers are still hotspots for serious crashes, especially in the Phoenix metro area. Among the hardest-hit cities are:

City Total Crashes Fatal Crashes Injuries
Phoenix 37,472 265 10,449
Mesa 8,022 46 2,503
Tempe 6,637 29 2,049
Glendale 5,218 27 1,456
Chandler 4,267 14 1,263
Scottsdale 4,219 15 1,421
Peoria 3,009 18 1,040
Gilbert 2,914 21 695
Avondale 1,850 7 510

    These numbers reinforce what local drivers experience every day — a high volume of collisions happening across suburban roads and major commuter corridors alike. Even cities known for thoughtful urban planning and well-maintained infrastructure aren’t immune to the risks posed by speeding, distracted driving, and congested intersections.

    Phoenix: One City, One-Third of the Crashes

    No city sees more traffic collisions than Phoenix. In 2024, it logged 37,472 total crashes, with 265 fatal crashes and over 10,449 injuries. Zooming in on Phoenix, the picture remains even more urgent. With 37,472 crashes in year, the city averaged over 102 crashes per day, that is almost one every 14 minutes.

    Many of these crashes happened at some of the city’s most notoriously dangerous intersections, where high speeds, poor visibility, and traffic volume collide.

    Phoenix’s mix of sprawling roadways, distracted drivers, aggressive merges, and heavy commuter traffic continues to make it the most dangerous city to drive in Arizona — and one of the most legally complex when it comes to getting justice after a crash.

    When Are Arizona Crashes Happening, and Why Does It Matter

    When it comes to deadly collisions in Arizona, the timing tells its own story. Fatal crashes reached their highest point in April, with Fridays standing out once again as the most lethal day of the week. The most dangerous hour for fatal crashes was between 6 PM and 7 PM, which is a time when speeds tend to rise and more tired or impaired drivers are on the road.

    The worst day for total crashes in 2024 occurred on Thursday, February 8, with a staggering 496 collisions reported statewide. Meanwhile, the deadliest single days of the year were November 15 and December 20, each recording 9 traffic-related deaths. These dates align closely with holiday travel periods, when road congestion and seasonal distractions tend to surge.

    Different types of crashes followed their own dangerous timing patterns. Motorcycle crashes peaked between 4 PM and 5 PM, that is a tail end of rush hour when traffic builds and visibility begins to drop. Alcohol-related crashes spiked during the early morning hours, particularly between 2 AM and 3 AM, when impaired drivers are leaving bars and heading home. Pedestrian and bicycle crashes, on the other hand, were most common during commute-heavy windows — between 3 PM and 4 PM and again from 6 PM to 7 PM, when a combination of traffic volume and lower visibility puts vulnerable road users at higher risk.

    What’s Driving the Danger?

    Here’s a breakdown of the top contributing factors behind Arizona’s most devastating crashes in 2023:

    • Alcohol-Related Crashes: Accounted for 5,520 incidents, a number that has remained stubbornly high for years despite public awareness campaigns.
    • Motorcycle Crashes: Reached 3,036 total, often ending in severe injury or death due to limited rider protection.
    • Pedestrian Crashes: 2,079 reported collisions — many involving crosswalk violations or driver inattention.
    • Bicycle-Involved Crashes: 1,379 in 2024 — a continued risk in urban areas without dedicated lanes.
    • Single-Vehicle Crashes: 18,057 — often linked to speeding, drowsy driving, or sudden lane departure.
    • Multi-Unit Crashes: 103,050 — a sharp reminder of how chain reactions and intersection risks dominate Arizona roadways.

    Urban crashes dominated the stats, but rural roads remained deadlier on average, which is partly due to higher speeds and delayed emergency responses.

    Seatbelt Use: A Small Action, A Big Impact

    Among all the trauma cases reported in 2023-2024, seatbelt use stood out as one of the clearest life-saving factors. In 2023, of the 12,283 vehicle occupant trauma cases, only 70% were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. That means nearly 4,000 people suffered serious injuries while unbelted.

    The numbers speak for themselves: 4.8% of unbelted occupants died, compared to just 1.4% of those who were buckled up. That’s more than three times the risk of dying in a crash just because someone didn’t click their seatbelt.

    Teen drivers (ages 15–24) had the lowest rates of seatbelt use, and American Indian or Alaska Native drivers had the lowest rate by race at just 59%, pointing to urgent gaps in outreach and enforcement.

    Final Thoughts: You’re Not Just a Number

    Every crash is more than a statistic. It’s a life suddenly changed — or lost. Whether you’re dealing with physical recovery, emotional trauma, or the frustrating aftermath of insurance claims, the impact is personal.

    If you’ve been hurt in a crash or lost someone because of another driver’s negligence, don’t face it alone. Our Phoenix car accident lawyers fight for victims across Arizona, whether the crash happened in downtown Phoenix or a rural stretch near Kingman. From holding insurers accountable to securing compensation for medical bills, pain, and lost wages, we’re here to help you take back control.

    You deserve more than a number on a report. You deserve justice.

    Sources:

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