The Payson Roundup / Traffic fatalities rise in Arizona

Archive for Thursday, August 16, 2007

August 16, 2007

Traffic fatalities in Arizona are among the highest in the nation.

Deaths per million road miles traveled in the U.S. averaged 1.5 so far in 2007. In Arizona, the rate is 1.9 deaths per million miles.

The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration said highway fatalities in 2007 have risen by about 9 percent so far in Arizona.

No figures are available at for Payson.

The only available figures available show that in 2005, 19 residents of Gila County lost their lives on Arizona highways, compared to 1,179 statewide. These figures indicate that 1.6 percent of the traffic fatalities in Arizona for 2005 resided in Gila County.

Linda Gorman, public affairs manager for AAA Arizona said, "Alcohol is probably the number one reason for the rise in Arizona."