[ad_1]
The number of people killed on the country’s highways rose 4.6% in the first nine months of 2020 despite coronavirus lockouts that reduced driving earlier this year.
(Suzanne Kreiter / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 28,190 people died in motor vehicle crashes from January through September last year, up from 26,941 in the same period of 2019. Final statistics for the full year will not be released. than in the fall.
Authorities blamed the increase on risky driving behaviors that developed when there were few vehicles on the road at the start of the pandemic.
“Preliminary data tells us that during the national health emergency, fewer Americans drove, but those who did took more risks and had more fatal accidents,” the security agency said. in a letter addressed to the drivers of the country.
Road deaths rose 0.6% in the first quarter of 2020, but fell 1.1% in the second quarter as coronavirus lockouts restricted movement. Deaths rose 13.1% from July to September, the agency said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We believe the main culprit is speed,” said Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. At the start of the pandemic, drivers found open roads and drove faster. The behavior continued even when traffic volumes picked up, Adkins said.
“A big factor here is the lack of enforcement. We hear from many states that traffic stops have decreased during COVID-19. Drivers feel like they can accelerate and get away with it,” he said. -he declares.
STUDY: THESE STATES HAVE THE WORST PILOTS
The NHTSA said recent reports show a 22% increase in vehicle speeds in several metropolitan areas from pre-pandemic figures. In addition, a study found that 65% of drivers treated at trauma centers who were injured in serious crashes had drugs or alcohol in their system in the last year. It was 50.6% before the pandemic, NHTSA said. The agency also said fewer people wear seat belts.
The agency tells people not to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, to wear seat belts and to reduce their speed in order to stay safe. He also says people need to make sure their children are in the correct car seat for their size.
[ad_2]
Source link