A report published late last year showed that from 2019 to 2022, traffic levels went down, but traffic fatalities went up. In Pennsylvania, traffic fatalities increased by 12% in that period. Data indicates that most of these deaths were due to speeding, careless driving, or DUI/DWI—the usual suspects.
Aside from being troubling, lawmakers are puzzled about what to make of the data. Most of the increased fatalities occurred in cities, suburbs, and small towns, where a decrease in traffic would have the greatest impact. Some lawmakers have said the increase in accidents must be due to fewer police assigned to traffic violations.
Different states have implemented test programs to measure the impact of speed cameras to issue tickets. Pennsylvania, for instance, cut fatal accidents in Philadelphia in half by installing speed cameras in 2020. However, some groups find that speed cameras infringe on due process and have a disproportionate effect on low-income drivers.
Drivers Getting Worse?
Another aspect of this issue is the new driver behaviors from the pandemic. The number of vehicle occupants who were killed while neglecting to wear a seatbelt increased by 24% from 2019 to 2021. For 25–35 year-olds, the increase was 51%. For some reason, people started taking riskier behavior after coming out of the lockdown.
Jonathan Adkins, CEO of the Governors Highway Safety Association, believes the issue came from the lockdown itself. "People started driving crazy because they could,” he said to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. “They were so used to these roads being full…And then our driving behavior didn’t go back to normal.”
So what can we do?
If the problem is new, reckless driver behaviors, we need to incentivize better habits. Awareness campaigns, training programs, and other public safety efforts can help. Insurance companies could offer incentives for taking such classes, which would help to improve driving habits. But it’s also critical to ensure that people who are injured by negligent drivers recover what they need to pay for medical care, lost wages, and other damages. The financial consequences of reckless driving are also an incentive against poor driving habits.
If you’ve been hurt in a traffic accident, call Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC at (888) 498-3023. For over a century, plaintiffs in Central Pennsylvania have relied on us to get them back on their feet.