If you are like many others, driving all the time is something you did before life changed when Covid-19 hit our country. Because so many people are either not working or working from home, traffic volume is way down across the United States. While the roads are far from empty, the number of cars on the road is down across the board, creating easier commutes and something you may not expect – no decline in fatal traffic accidents. With fewer people on the road, the assumption would be that there would be a decline in automobile accidents and fatal car accidents. A recent news article highlights this problem that is occurring in multiple states across America:
Minnesota
Between March 16 and April 21, 35 people died in car crashes across Minnesota—the most in that period in at least six years. At the same time, state officials say, about half as many cars as normal have been cruising along the state’s roads.
Louisiana
In Louisiana, where officials say traffic fell by about one-third after a March stay-at-home order, initial figures show that from March 16 to April 20, the number of fatal crashes rose to 66 from 61 during the same period in 2019, the Louisiana State Police said.
Missouri
Missouri’s Department of Transportation, said fatalities are down only 10% compared to traffic volume that is down 40%.
Speeding continues to be a factor in many of the vehicle fatalities. The California Highway Patrol wrote about 2,500 speeding tickets to drivers caught going more than 100 mph. That was an 87% jump from a year earlier, despite a roughly 35% drop in traffic volume on California state roads. In New York City, cameras captured 296,000 speeders during a five-week stretch beginning in mid-March, an 81% increase from the same period in 2019. “There’s a lot more available lane space for people to use—and abuse,” said Michael Hanson, director of Minnesota’s Office of Traffic Safety, adding that speeding and aggressive or careless driving were the most common factors in the lethal crashes.
While this article does not touch on data related to the Carolinas, we can only assume that some of these same issues are also impacting our roads and our communities. While no one is perfect and we have all driven too fast at one time or another, we hope that drivers will consider the dangerous risks of driving too fast compared with the benefits. While getting there quicker is great, it is possible that your fast driving could result in your not getting there at all. Please drive safely, obey the rules of the road, and make sure you get there safely!
Auger & Auger Law Firm has been protecting the rights of injured North and South Carolinians for 25+ years. Our client-focused approach towards representing injured people is what sets us apart from many other firms. We treat all of our clients as if they were one of our own. Check out our promises to see the commitments that we make to every client. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact our office at 800-559-5741 for a free case evaluation. We can also be reached through our website at www.augerlaw.com where you can contact our website chat moderator or submit a request for a callback. Please stay well and safe!