DPS is tasked with ensuring the safety of Arizona’s roadways and communities. Yet, the
department is stretched thinner than ever. Arizona’s population is growing rapidly, and with it,
the number of vehicles on the road. Currently, there are 8 million registered vehicles and 6
million registered drivers in Arizona. Experts project that to adequately handle the growth, DPS
needs at least 3,000 sworn troopers. However, the department is drastically underfunded, with
only 952 sworn troopers on the job, leaving a vacancy rate of 28%. In fact, Arizona is the only
state in the western U.S. that does not offer 24-hour coverage from its state troopers.
This lack of coverage is leading to disastrous consequences. In 2022, 745 people lost their lives
on Arizona’s highways—the highest number of fatalities in over four decades. Impaired driving
fatalities increased by 6%, and motorcycle and pedestrian deaths surged. These are not just
statistics—they represent families torn apart, futures stolen, and communities shattered.
