Car Accident Deaths Down Statewide - But Not On I-19

    According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, over the past two years car accident deaths are at a 16-year low.  This equates to a 14 percent decline in car accident deaths over this time period.

   Unfortunately, on the stretch of road between Tucson and Nogales, the statistics are much different.  The breakdown is as follows:  10 car accident deaths in 2005, 11 in 2006, 5 in 2007, and 10 in 2008.  But in 2009, Interstate 19 had more car accident deaths than in those previous years.  In 2009, I-19 saw 13 car accident fatalities.

    The Arizona Department of Public Safety says I-19 is not any more dangerous than other roads in Arizona.  DPS says the key to highway safety is driver behavior, and the two growing problems are driver fatigue and distracted drivers.  In fact, AAA says that falling asleep while driving has been a part of nearly 17 percent of all fatal accidents.  The conclusion being, a fatigued driver can be almost as dangerous as a drunk driver.  When you're tired, your reaction time and your perception time both slow down.  So keep the roads safe.  Know your limits and keep a safe distance between you and the traffic around you.