By Frank Hinds, Executive Director
The Allstate Insurance Company has declared Phoenix drivers to be the safest among big cities with a population of more than 1 million. Really?
Actually, this declaration is based on Allstate claims only and is not related to all the drivers you and I see on the roadways every day. I’m happy to know that Allstate policy holders are safe drivers but Arizona has notoriously bad drivers, especially in Phoenix. Excessive speed, red light running, tailgating and cell phone use are major contributors to the high number of crashes experienced on a regular basis.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) ranks Arizona #4 in the nation for red light running fatalities. I’m guessing Allstate’s customers are not part of this group.
We have a long way to go before we can say with certainty that Arizona drivers truly are the safest. The State of Arizona needs to do a better job of enforcing current traffic laws. Bad driver behavior will only improve with more education and those drivers who injure and kill others need tougher, more appropriate punishment.