Driving deaths in Arizona rose in 2014, consistent with a national trend in which lower gas prices and more drivers are resulting in more fatalities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that over 36,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2014, 770 of those were in Arizona.
Traffic deaths rose 8 percent nationally through the first half of 2014.
Arizona AAA has stated that solutions may be based upon limiting distractions, and being a more defensive driver. Further, Arizona does not have mandatory helmet laws and is one of a few states that does not have a statewide ban on texting and driving.
Additional reasons attributable to traffic fatalities include speeding, aggressive driving, failure to use seat belts and driving impaired, due to alcohol, or drugs.
A car insurance group has further stated that Arizona is the sixth worst state for drivers, the ranking considers the percentage of fatal crashes involving failure to obey traffic laws, drunk driving, speeding and the numbers of fatal collisions with pedestrians and bicyclists, per 100,000 residents.