Traffic fatalities surged from 2019 to 2021, both nationally and in Arizona, despite COVID-related disruptions to travel, according to a report by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit.
While there were less cars on the road in 2020, the number of car crashes around the U.S. increased. So too, did the likelihood of those crashes being fatal.
Even when traffic returned to pre-pandemic levels, fatalities continued to rise. From 2019 to 2021, the U.S. saw a 19% surge surge in fatalities. In Arizona, fatalities increased 14%.
The cause seems to be a spike in risky behavior on the road. TRIP cited a separate U.S. traffic study that found more drivers are speeding, not wearing seat belts and driving under the influence since the pandemic began.