Stay at home order fails to reduce car accidents
USA- Autoconnectedcar.com writes that traffic fatalities are increasing nationally even though much of the country was under stay at home orders for part of 2020. The National Safety Council reviewed data from May from all 50 states to learn the disappointing news.
Traffic was down, and yet the risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident for those who were on the road jumped by 23.5 percent. That number is based on the number of deaths per mile. Overall, mileage traveled declined by 25.5 percent. Overall deaths were down but by just eight percent. Given the far fewer cars on the road, one would have suspected a much larger drop in collisions.
Sadly, it appears that the lockdowns and pandemic have not even led to a silver lining of fewer lives lost on the road.
In six states, including North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, the actual number of people killed in 2020 is greater than the number of fatalities for the same point in time last year.
Other states did experience drops in deaths, including Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and North Carolina.
Drivers on the road should be using caution to avoid becoming one of these statistics. Many of the ways that the NSC recommends to increase safety are simple, including bucking up, not speeding, paying attention to the roadway, and not driving when fatigued. Parents with teenage drivers should take time to talk to their children about staying safe behind the wheel. In urban locations, drivers should be prepared for heavier than normal pedestrian and cyclist traffic. Those concerned about the dangers of the road can encourage their employers and officials to join Vision Zero Campaigns aimed at putting a stop to traffic violence.
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