PHOENIX (CBS5) -
A new report released by the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that Arizona roads are becoming more deadly.
ADOT Communications Director Timothy Tait said the 2011 crash report took months to compile and includes over 50 pages of data.
The report said 825 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes in 2011 compared to 759 fatalities in 2010, an 8.7 percent increase from 2006.
"825 fatalities on Arizona's roads is 825 too many," Tait said.
He said 2011 is the first year there has been an increase since 2006.
"It's something that gets our attention," said Tait.
A crash on Interstate 10 Saturday where an SUV was pinned under a semitruck caused traffic to be detoured. No one died in this crash but, officials said 25-year-old Michael Ahrenberg of Surprise died when he was caught in the traffic backup on the interstate when his vehicle crossed the median and he was ejected.
Tait said the contributing factors to the findings in the report are impaired drivers, distracted drivers and not using a seat belt. However, he said the No. 1 cause of the deadly crashes is driving too fast for the conditions.
The report states that single-vehicle incidents accounted for 40.45 percent of all fatal crashes.
It also stated that in 2011, 132 motorcycle riders and passengers were killed compared to 85 such deaths in 2010, a 55 percent increase.
"We will be increasing our efforts to educate drivers and to reinforce those important messages," Tait said.
CBS 5 news reached out to the Department of Public Safety to ask if not having speeding cameras on the highways could be a contributing factor to the increase in deadly crashes.
No one with DPS was available to comment Sunday.
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