The street can be a dangerous place, especially in rush hour.
From the speed racer flooring the accelerator to be the first at his destination to the multi-tasking driver who’s also texting with his BFF, the perils are myriad. And that’s especially true in Scottsdale.
A study by Las Vegas firm H&P Law broke down the Fatality Analysis Reporting System data from 2017 to 2021 to find geographically where the highest percentage of fatal crashes are coming during the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Scottsdale ranked as the second highest city in the country for rush hour fatal accidents by percentage.
Scottsdale had 31 road deaths during rush hour compared to the 102 total road deaths, giving Scottsdale a score of 30.39%. That’s also 31.04% higher than the national average.
Topping the list was Winston-Salem, N.C., where rush hour fatalities accounted for almost 32.26% of all traffic fatalities.
Several other Arizona cities cracked the top 10 on the list.
Tucson was No. 6 with 125 rush hour deaths out of 443 total road deaths. That comes to a rush hour percentage of deaths or 28.22%.
Phoenix was No. 8 with 319 rush hour deaths and 1,139 total road deaths, giving Phoenix a score of 28.01%.
And Mesa finished out the top ten on the list with 60 rush hour deaths and 215 total road deaths, giving Mesa a score of 27.91%.
“The study shows some clear trends in the data, opening up a bigger conversation about what’s making rush hour riskier, from more congested roads through to existing infrastructure not being able to handle the sheer number of travelers,” a spokesman with H&P Law said in a written statement. “These insights are key to getting a better grip on the specific dangers of driving during peak traffic and can guide targeted efforts to improve overall road safety.”
Local law enforcement agencies were not related to the study and could not comment on it specifically, but they did offer tips for safe driving.
Suffice it to say that the best way to avoid freeway collisions is to “drive the speed limit, don’t drive distracted and to make sure your vehicle is good working order,” Arizona Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Bart Graves said in an email to the Daily Independent.
Graves also said in another email to the Daily Independent, “Distracted driving a major factor when it comes to crashes on the freeway system. Fatigued driving is another big issue. However, the number one factor in most serious injury and fatal crashes is speed.
“As the Valley’s population explodes, there are more and more vehicles on the highways and the volume of traffic certainly has increased,” he continued.
Scottsdale Police Sargent Allison Sempsis offered some driving safety tips, too:
1. Maintain a safe following distance. In rush-hour traffic, it’s essential to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. This allows you to have enough time to react and brake if necessary. Aim for at least a three-second following distance to ensure you have enough space to stop safely.
2. Stay focused and don’t be distracted. Avoid using your phone, eating or engaging in any other activities that may take your attention away from driving.
3. Don’t be in a hurry and plan for the traffic with some delays. Use your signals and be predictable. Signaling your intentions and being predictable to other drivers is crucial in rush-hour traffic. Use your turn signals well in advance before changing lanes or making turns. This helps other drivers anticipate your actions and reduces the risk of collisions.
J. Graber can be reached at jgraber@iniusa.org. We invite our readers to submit their civil comments pro or con on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
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