Roads Deadlier Than Ever During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From March through June, governors issued stay-at-home (SAH) orders that reduced the total amount of traffic, but car crash fatalities increased by more than 37% across the United States. Pennsylvanians traveled 8.4 billion miles less in March, April and May 2020 than they did during the same months of 2019. However, the crash fatality rate increased from 10.92 people killed per billion miles traveled to 13.38 killed per billion miles, and this trend could continue as the SAH orders are lifted.Pennsylvanians Scale Back Travel
When Governor Tom Wolf issued SAH orders for nonessential workers and shut down schools, fewer people had reasons to drive. People were working from home on a remote basis. Some people were furloughed or laid off. Children had to do remote learning at home. Government offices, libraries, restaurants, bars and many other businesses closed. The places people did need to go, and could still go to, such as the pharmacy or grocery store, did not require driving a great distance. Most of these places are accessible on local streets that don't have long stretches that are conducive to fast rates of travel.Why SAH Orders Were Issued
Governor Wolf issued the SAH orders with the intent of slowing the spread of COVID-19. He and other state leaders, public health professionals and doctors wanted to provide enough time for hospitals to ramp up their capacity. The goal was to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed with an onslaught of COVID-19 patients.Who Was Still Driving?
Some individuals, including first responders, grocery workers and pharmacists, still had to drive to work. Those who live several miles away from where they work might have taken an interstate. The openness of the highways, which don't have stop signs or traffic lights, might have inspired a sense of freedom and unleashed a long-standing desire for drivers to put the pedal to the metal. Some people disobeyed the SAH orders and continued traveling for leisure or personal reasons.Speeding Was a Big Factor in the Increased Fatality Rate

Speak Your Mind