Higher fatality rates for automobile accidents may be a result of changes in driving habits during the Coronavirus pandemic. Traffic volume plummeted during the Covid-19 shutdown. Businesses and schools were closed so there were significantly fewer vehicles commuting on our roadways. Some auto insurance companies even announced partial premium refunds so few folks were driving and getting into collisions. An overall drop in the number of auto accidents is certainly a good thing for all of us!
The disturbing part of the data starting to come out is that although traffic volume dropped the drop in traffic related fatalities was not directly proportionate for the first half of 2020. There was a 16% drop in traffic volume, but only a 3.3% drop in traffic related fatalities. This disproportionate drop in fatalities appears to indicate that those who were continuing to drive during the lockdown were engaging in riskier driving behaviors when compared to the same period in 2019.
Using common sense can help drivers protect themselves and others. Driving the speed limit or lower when necessary due to fog, icy roads or construction projects will help protect both those inside your car and others sharing the roadway. Ensuring you and every one of your passengers is wearing a seatbelt and that children are properly buckled in an appropriate car seat or booster will reduce their risk of serious bodily injury. Of course, avoiding alcohol and drugs, even prescription drugs that might reduce your driving ability, will keep your reaction time as fast as possible.
We all have a responsibility to drive safely and to protect each other. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident that was someone else’s fault, then you should consult with the attorneys at Cooney Law Offices. We can help guide you through a personal injury liability claim, an underinsured motorist claim and/or an uninsured motorist claim.