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Retrospective: Did traffic deaths increase with fewer cars on the road in 2020?

While millions have been fully vaccinated in Pennsylvania, the COVID-19 pandemic still seems to be far from over. Even as workers have spent more than a year adjusting to telecommuting, traffic patterns are starting to show signs of increasing. Unfortunately, what should have been a quiet year for deadly vehicle collisions, ended up seeing a troubling spike in traffic fatalities.

Throughout much of 2020, the empty roads were hard to miss. Millions upon millions of employees were now working from home and, sadly, a significant amount of people lost their jobs due to a loss of profitability or work simply closing down. Those who were still driving were met with wide open lanes and a faster commute than they had ever experienced. Unfortunately, this ultimately led to trouble.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) reported data at one point that showed overall traffic was down 15.5% against the same period the previous year while fatalities had increased by 14.6%. Pennsylvania is not an outlier, however, as these numbers are reflected in national crash data.

Even with less-crowded roads, drivers must remain safe. They must avoid distractions, avoid drowsy driving, avoid chemical impairment, and follow all speed limits and safety signals. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle collision, it is wise to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney.