The number of people killed on the country’s highways increased by 4.6% in the first nine months of 2020, despite coronavirus blockages that prevented traffic earlier this year.
(Suzanne Kreiter / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 28,190 people died in traffic accidents from January to September last year, compared to 26,941 in the same period in 2019. The final statistics for the entire year will not be released until the fall.
The authorities blamed the increase in risky driving behavior that developed when there were few vehicles on the roads at the beginning of the pandemic.
“Preliminary data tells us that during the national health emergency, fewer Americans drove, but those who did were more at risk and had more fatal accidents,” the safety agency said in a letter to drivers in the country.
Traffic deaths increased 0.6% during the first quarter of 2020, but fell 1.1% in the second quarter, as coronavirus blockages restricted movement. Fatalities increased 13.1% from July to September, the agency said.
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“We think the big culprit is accelerating,” said Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. At the beginning of the pandemic, drivers found open roads and drove faster. The behavior continued even as traffic volumes recovered, Adkins said.
“A big factor here is the lack of enforcement. We are hearing from many states that traffic stops decreased during COVID-19. Drivers feel they can accelerate and get away,” he said.
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NHTSA said that recent reports show a 22% increase in vehicle speed in several metropolitan areas compared to pre-pandemic numbers. In addition, a study found that 65% of drivers seen at trauma centers who were injured in serious accidents had drugs or alcohol in their systems last year. It was 50.6% before the pandemic, said the NHTSA. The agency also said that fewer people wear seat belts.
The agency is advising people not to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, wear a seat belt and slow down to stay safe. It also says that people should make sure that their children occupy the appropriate car seat for their size.