PHOENIX – Traffic and road safety concerns are common topics for many motorists across the Valley. As city and state departments crack down on speeding and reckless driving, officials say it is ultimately up to motorists to drive safely.
Bart Graves, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, says state departments are working proactively to regulate traffic safety.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety collaborates with the Arizona Department of Transportation and state troopers to compile crash statistics and identify locations on state highways and interstates where the highest number of accidents occur.
State Troopers are sent to medians at specific locations along major highways to keep motorists alert and speed reduced. According to Graves, it makes a huge difference.
“We will look at the crash statistics. We will assign a squad to focus all their attention on slowing people down, pulling them over, issuing citations and writing warnings,” Graves said. “We’ve found that doing this sends a declarative message to drivers to slow down.”
Speeding, fatigue and cell phone usage play a significant role in the cause of these accidents. However, another factor is not wearing a seat belt.
According to a Facebook post from the Prescott Police Department, 48% of all front-seat passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2023 were unrestrained, while 60% of those killed in back seats were unrestrained.
Nate Astalos, a student at Arizona State University who faces rush-hour traffic during his commute to downtown Phoenix from his home in San Tan Valley, said he witnesses reckless driving regularly.
“There’s such a huge influx of people getting on the freeway in the morning. Everybody’s very aggressive,” Astalos said. “If you’re not in either the HOV lane or the No. 2 lane, then you’re pretty much stuck because everybody’s just stopping and going bumper to bumper the whole time.”
Graves said the Arizona Department of Public Safety does as much as it can to keep drivers accountable and safe on highways. However, he said, it’s ultimately up to the driver.
“We can’t be everywhere,” Graves said. “People have to take responsibility for their own driving behavior and for friends and relatives who choose not to be buckled up, who choose to speed, or choose to be impaired when they drive.”
The Phoenix Police Department takes similar measures to enforce safety on its local roadways.
“Our current strategy consists of using radar trailers that collect a quantity of traffic as well as speed data. We collect data from the week before our targeted enforcement and compare it with the data collected afterward and act accordingly,” Officer Gjelhaug said in a statement via email.
The city is also working to cut down reckless behavior on the roads. Neighboring cities such as Tempe and Scottsdale have installed speed and red light cameras on their busiest streets.
According to Gjelhaug, the Phoenix City Council is currently considering a similar approach.
In the meantime, drivers should remain cautious and courteous to those around them, as Phoenix police are always on the lookout for reckless behavior.
Gjelhaug said motorists, cyclists and pedestrians should keep in mind to be aware of their surroundings when on the road.
“My best advice is to consider where the danger is going to come from in every scenario you find yourself in,” Gjelhaug said. “Stay aware so you can be prepared to react.”