Arizona authorities are stepping up enforcement on a rural highway known for deadly crashes. The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is directing its deputies to increase patrols on U.S. Route 93 near the community of Congress.
The stretch of U.S. 93 between Wickenburg and Hoover Dam are part of the main travel route between Phoenix and Las Vegas.
In 2020, nine people died in crashes between Wickenburg and Wikieup compared with at least 13 in 2021, according to a report by KNXV.
Many accidents involved travelers or truckers who were speeding or passing in prohibited areas.
The state Department of Transportation plans to widen 5 miles of U.S. 93 in 2022 between Wickenburg and Congress.
No widening projects have been approved for the other 25 miles, but transportation workers plan to add centerline rumble strips.