Lots of people around the country and in Washington State are currently working from home or just driving less and that’s leaving the roads unusually empty with reduced traffic.
Apparently, some people can’t resist the temptation to roar through the streets as fast as they can. There have been increased problems with speeders, including here in Spokane. According to law enforcement throughout the country, they’re seeing vehicles traveling nearly 100 mph fairly regularly. “We’ve had 120 miles per hour on 167, and 90-plus is common,” said one trooper. “Triple digits — we’re seeing a lot more of those.” The problem seems to be widespread in various areas.
Even a slight increase in the number of speeders on our roadways is a big problem. Faster vehicle speeds lead to much greater forces when they collide with an another car, person or any object. Although the odds of an automobile accident may go down when there is less traffic on the streets, the higher vehicle speeds increase the odds of an accident being extremely damaging and even fatal.
Whenever you’re out on the roads as a driver, bicyclist or pedestrian please be aware that not everyone is acting with safety in mind. Even though there’s not a lot of visible traffic around don’t let your guard down. Defensive driving is still important. If you are in an accident with a negligent driver, remember that you have the right to seek compensation for your losses.