Despite recent death, number of wrong-way collisions on Arizona highways declining

PHOENIX — While a woman was killed in a wrong-way collision in Phoenix on Wednesday, such incidents are becoming more rare on Arizona highways, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety.

“When we look at 2024 versus 2019, we’re talking 200 fewer instances,” DPS Sgt. Eric Andrews told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday. “Any fewer is good.”

Andrews believes the numbers are falling due to widespread law enforcement efforts, including initiatives from DPS and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

He cited ADOT implementing engineering strategies to highways and entrances.

“We see those flashing signs now. We have the thermal cameras to to capture that information sooner,” Andrews said. “Our response time is always improving, so there’s a variety of factors I think that come into play, but I think education, engineering are huge.”

What kind of person is likely to be a wrong-way driver?

A driver was killed and another person was seriously injured in a wrong-way collision on Interstate 17 in Phoenix early Wednesday.

The medical examiner is working to determine if the wrong-way driver was impaired.

“I have stopped a wrong-way driver. I did not have to ram them. In my case, it was an elderly subject who was just confused,” Andrews said. “It’s the ones that are impaired that tend to keep on driving, and those ones, it’s absolutely terrifying.”

In fact, the majority of wrong-way drivers are impaired, he added.

“It is not going to stop until society takes responsibility for their own actions and for those around them, and they do not make that conscious decision to drive while impaired or they do not let their friends and family who are around them that they know are impaired pick up the keys and drive,” Andrews said.

Get the latest KTAR News 92.3 FM traffic alerts sent straight to your phone by texting “TRAFFIC” to 620620.

Department of Public Safety File Photo/<a href=”https://x.com/Arizona_DPS/status/1870544771514765426/photo/1” target=”_blank”>via X</a>)

Related

1 driver killed, another seriously injured in wrong-way collision on Phoenix freewaySouth Central Extension light rail line opening will cap big week for Valley transportationAfter 4 years of construction and $832M, I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project is completePedestrian dead after getting hit by vehicle in PhoenixPhoenix stabbing victim hospitalized in critical condition, suspect detainedState Route 51 construction to bring weeks of around-the-clock delays