Traffic fatalities declined by 1.2 percent in 2019 despite a 0.9 percent increase in driving. Preliminary data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that pedestrian deaths declined by 2 percent and cyclist deaths by 3 percent. The only increase was from accidents involving heavy trucks.
You might think that the great decrease in travel in 2020 would result in a parallel decrease in traffic fatalities. But Massachusetts reports that fatalities have slightly increased despite a 50 percent decrease in driving. The state had 28 fatalities in April 2020 compared with 27 in April 2019. Of course, that’s a small sample compared with the nation as a whole.
The state didn’t say why it thought fatalities hadn’t declined. But it appears that some drivers have responded to the reduction in congestion by driving well above speed limits. Nebraska has cited 64 percent more drivers for speeding above 100 mph since March 18 than the same period in 2019. Utah reports numerous people driving 30 mph above posted speed limits. More data will be needed to find out of Massachusett’s experience is the exception or the rule and whether speeding is the cause of increased fatality rates.
No question about it, speeds have increased- a lot..
I am on the highway every day and it is like a video game out there with average speeds of 75-80 even in more congested areas. I think it is partially because a higher % of drivers are now contractor types rather than average people and they see the emptier rods as a chance to get places faster for their businesses, and they love to intimidate other drivers with their oversized pickups and SUV’s.
Another reason is that the state police presence is much lower so less fear of getting caught.
A lot of these guys are not going to want to slow down when the highways get more crowded so there will be an increase in accidents for a while once we are all on the road again.
“Another reason is that the state police presence is much lower so less fear of getting caught.”
Where are you driving?
On my two 1000-mile I-5 trips since the unconstitutional lockdown, there were so many speed traps, especially in Washington and California.
A complicated issue. In California the number of speeding tickets issued for going over 100 mph in the 30 days since shelter in place was started has doubled:
https://patch.com/california/napavalley/chp-issues-2-500-speeding-tickets-30-days-ca-stay-home-order
My personal trips since them of a total of perhaps 20 miles of freeway driving on I80 in the Bay area have witnessed numerous cars speeding at certainly over 90 mph. Speeding in Ca was already a problem. A friend of mine who left Ca in 1989 and returned to live in 2009 was shocked to discover that instead of most drivers obeying the speed limit in 1989 the culture had changed and no speeding at 75-80 was normal and many cars drove faster, weaving their way through slower cars.
Strangely the increase in speeding since the lock down has not apparently resulted in an increase in freeway deaths, traffic fatalities in Ca have decreased:
https://qz.com/1840736/coronavirus-reduces-california-traffic-accidents-by-half/
Interestingly on the German Autobahn where most sections have no speed limit the fatality rate is about half that of the US:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autobahn#Safety:_international_comparison
Part of the reason for this is probably that in Germany it is strictly forbidden to pass on the right. With no speed limit if a car is in the fast lane and a faster one comes up behind it, the car in the fast lane pulls to the right. I personally find driving on the Autobahn much more secure as I always know fast cars will be on my left and I have to pull over to the right if a fast car comes up behind me, and that car behind me is not going to cut me off and pass on the right. In the USA western states at least, it is frightening to see speeders weaving their way through slower traffic, frequently not even signalling.
Just found this study, not sure how reliable as from a car dealership, showing a significant decrease in the number of speeding tickets issued in many states from 2011-2017, California among them:
https://www.yonkershonda.com/blog/united-speeders-of-america
Interestingly Oregon had an 80% increase in tickets issued in the same period.