Arizona continues to struggle with dangerous driving behaviors as recent state data shows drivers there caused almost 6,000 collisions in 2024 by running red lights, and 64 of those crashes were fatal. This information comes from a new report released by the Arizona Department of Transportation, underscoring just how serious the issue has become statewide.
According to safety experts, Arizona leads the nation in the number of red-light-related crashes. Ed Taube, a defensive driving instructor with the Arizona Chapter of the National Safety Council, said that despite ongoing efforts to improve traffic safety, the troubling trend shows no real improvement.
Officials say this problem isn’t just a statistic — it’s playing out on the roads right now. This week alone, authorities reported two separate crashes involving drivers who ignored traffic signals. In Phoenix, police confirmed that a man died early Tuesday morning after running a red light and colliding with a light rail train at the intersection of Indian School Road and Central Avenue. In another incident in Glendale, a 15-year-old driver, suspected of speeding, went through a stoplight near 75th Avenue and Camelback Road, hitting another vehicle and a pedestrian, injuring two people.
Taube explained that the problem has been persistent “for many, many years” and does not appear to be slowing down. He pointed to several factors that contribute to the issue in Arizona, including generally good weather that encourages year-round driving, high vehicle speeds, wide and flat roadways, and driver distractions.
To try to curb the number of collisions, some communities like Phoenix have adjusted signal timing by lengthening yellow lights at intersections. However, Taube noted that many drivers treat the longer yellow phase as a challenge to beat the light rather than a cue to slow down.
Taube urged drivers to break the dangerous habit by slowing down, giving other vehicles space, and avoiding distractions such as texting or talking on the phone when approaching intersections.
Source: Adapted from “Arizona among worst states for deadly red-light running,” AZFamily.
