For more than a month now, the United States government has been trying to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic more than any other issue in the country. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, it seems there’s another thing that needs to be dealt with – the number of speeders suddenly increased across different states resulting in deadly car crashes. Let's take a look.

Fewer Cars, More Crashes

blue car crash new york city
Via ronniecnyc on Instagram

When the stay-at-home order was implemented over a month ago, many took advantage of the empty roads and highways. Some drivers even speed up over 100 mph that in many cases cost their lives. Minnesota, Louisiana, and Missouri were just some of the states that were having trouble with this matter.

During the pandemic, new data obtained by the Journal listed more traffic fatalities in Minnesota and Louisiana than in the same period years ago. Between March 16 and April 21, 2020, around 35 people died in Minnesota -- the highest count in six years during that period – and 66 fatal crashes in Louisiana (which is higher than last year). On a miles-driven basis, Missouri’s fatalities surged too. These just show that many think that having more room on the road means a good time for a joyride.

Fewer Cars, More Speeders

Police check speeds
Via PA

During rush hour, cars now travel much faster. In fact, in Los Angeles, cars moved 59% faster than usual. In California, speeding statistics show huge jumps, with around 2,500 speeding tickets issued between March 19 and April 19 – this despite the volume of traffic continuing to drop. New York City also posted an increase in speeding as its speed cameras captured 296,000 speeders in a five-week period.

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The usual reasons for driving excessive speeds include failing to notice that they were already speeding up. Moreover, many drivers neglected the importance of wearing seatbelts when driving. Some may even drive impaired and distracted, resulting in fatal car crashes.

Opening The Floodgates

drive up COVID-19 testing station
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Due to stay-at-home orders leaving deserted roads, some drivers turned the streets into a race track. While health workers are already reeling with stress dealing with COVID-19, officials are kindly asking motorists to cooperate when it comes to safety. But the big question here is: What can we expect once the floodgates are finally opened?

Source: The Wall Street Journal

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