ADOT Reveals Alarming Truth: Mohave County Hit by Nearly 10 Accidents Daily in 2023

Accident rates are on the rise in Arizona, particularly in Mohave County. Recent data from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) for 2023 reveals 122,247 traffic accidents statewide, with approximately 2.84% occurring in Mohave County alone.

Sadly, the county has experienced a spike in fatal accidents compared to previous years. In 2023, 76 individuals lost their lives in 67 fatal crashes, an increase from 69 fatalities in 2022 and 70 in 2021. Among those fatalities were seven pedestrians and two cyclists.

Mohave County recorded a total of 3,480 accidents this year, making it the highest in the state. Within this count, Kingman reported 663 crashes, while Bullhead City recorded 654 and Lake Havasu City 566. Notably, Bullhead City led in fatalities with 12 deaths from 11 fatal accidents.

The statistical landscape has remained mostly stable since 2022, which saw 3,475 total accidents in the county. Colorado City, however, experienced a significant increase, more than doubling its accident counts from the previous year.

Analyzing daily averages, the county encountered roughly 9.53 accidents per day and approximately six fatalities each month. Economically, the impact of 2023 accidents in Mohave County surpassed $1 billion, with fatalities alone accounting for over $723 million and injuries costing approximately $284 million. This marks an increase of $39.6 million in accident-related costs from 2022.

Despite a slight overall uptick of 1.57% in total accidents since 2021, the number of fatalities has actually decreased marginally by 0.98%. Nonetheless, the crash totals for 2023 represent the second-highest figure observed in the last five years.

On a broader scale, statewide data points to a grim reality: one death occurs every 6 hours and 42 minutes, with an average of 148 injuries reported daily. Alcohol-related incidents constitute 4.71% of all crashes, escalating to 25.73% of fatal collisions.

The Labor Day weekend of 2023 stood out for its tragic toll, recording 18 fatalities across 15 crashes, while Memorial Day and Thanksgiving followed closely behind, each resulting in 15 deaths from 14 accidents.