Arizona highways are some of the most beautiful in the country. Who can forget driving down an Arizona highway in the springtime with saguaros and vibrant spring flowers dotting the landscape? In spite of all of the beauty, however, Arizona highways are also some of the most dangerous in the country.

In 2011, there were more than 45,000 people injured and 700 killed in Arizona car crashes, and the vast majority of these crashes took place on some of the most deadly stretches of Arizona roads known as highways.

Arizona unfortunately made a list of the Top 10 States with the Most Dangerous Highways. Arizona is also prominently featured on a list of America’s 100 Deadliest Highways with:

• Interstate-10 (ranked 18th)
• Interstate -17 (ranked 21st)
• Interstate -19 (ranked 38th)
• Interstate -15 (ranked 52nd)
• Interstate -40 (ranked 88th)

In addition, Highway 93 from Phoenix to Las Vegas is considered by many to be one of the deadliest stretches of highway in the state.

What makes these and other highways so dangerous? It is often a matter of design, excessive speed, crowded roads, oversized vehicles, aggressive or illegal passing, inattentive drivers, or impaired drivers.

Arizona drivers, by exercising care and attention, can work on removing Arizona from these notorious lists so we can all enjoy the beauty of Arizona highway driving.