Less Driving In 2020, Yet US Traffic Fatalities Spiked
Thursday, March 4th, 2021 AutoPandemic lockdowns and stay-at-home orders kept many drivers off US roads and highways last year.
But those who did venture out found open lanes that only invited reckless driving, leading to a sharp increase in traffic-crash deaths across the country.
The non-profit National Safety Council estimates in a report issued on Thursday that 42,060 people died in vehicle crashes in 2020, an 8% increase over 2019 and the first jump in four years.
Plus, the fatality rate per 100m miles driven spiked 24%, the largest annual percentage increase since the council began collecting data in 1923.
And even though traffic is now getting close to pre-coronavirus levels, the bad behavior on the roads is continuing, authorities say.
External References & Further Reading
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/04/us-sharp-increase-traffic-crash-deaths-2020
