KINGMAN - Today is Election Day, and thousands of voters all across Arizona will be taking time to hop in the car and drive to their polling place. Most of them will arrive in one piece.
But it's the 500 or so who won't that concerns AAA Arizona spokesperson Linda Gorman.
AAA Arizona is reminding drivers to be careful on the streets today, as Election Day has traditionally resulted in more traffic accidents than on subsequent Tuesdays. According to figures released by the Arizona Department of Transportation, general election dates in each of the past four election cycles experienced a slight but consistent rise in the number of vehicle crashes recorded throughout the state.
"This was a trend that was picked up nationally as well," Gorman said. "I think you're going to see a trend regardless of what area you're in."
Gorman said Election Day drivers experience more crashes than usual due to several primary causes.
The first, she said, is a preoccupation with the election itself. Whether a prospective voter is still considering which candidate to vote for, or trying to remember the wording of a ballot initiative on their way to the polls, Gorman said it's not unusual for people to have more than the road on their minds.
Election Day also results in more drivers taking to the road when they wouldn't otherwise, and going to places they normally wouldn't go. With record turnout expected this year, Gorman said, the prospect of a large number of drivers struggling to find their way through unfamiliar streets is very real.
"A lot of people did vote early, but there are more registered voters this year," she said. "With the increased turnout, you're probably going to see more people out on the roads than usual."
Since Election Day always falls on a weekday, Gorman said many working voters find themselves in a rush to get to their polling place at an opportune time. This, too, distracts them from the road and also leads to long lines in the early morning, at lunchtime and as polls close at 7 p.m.
"Also, polling places change," Gorman said. "The place you voted at last election may not be the polling place you vote at this election. Then you're in even more of a hurry to get the right polling place."
AAA recommends several tips for avoiding accidents on Election Day. The first and most important is to plan ahead - by mapping out a polling place ahead of time and putting aside enough time to get to the polls and vote without having to rush, voters can greatly reduce their amount of distraction on the road, Gorman said.
She also suggests avoiding the three peak voting times whenever possible, and to keep an eye out for other motorists who are also searching for their polling places, and may be in a hurry themselves.
"Also, check with your employer," Gorman said. "Many employers have policies that allow their employees time off to vote.
"As long as you're in line when (the polls) close, you're going to be able to vote," she added.
