Nearly 43,000 people died on US roads last year, agency says

[Calista241]

Last edited Tue May 17, 2022, 04:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Associated Press

Nearly 43,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, the highest number in 16 years as Americans returned to the roads after the coronavirus pandemic forced many to stay at home.

The 10.5% jump over 2020 numbers was the largest percentage increase since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began its fatality data collection system in 1975. Exacerbating the problem was a persistence of risky driving behaviors during the pandemic, such as speeding and less frequent use of seat belts, as people began to venture out more in 2021 for out-of-state and other road trips, analysts said.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said America faces a crisis on its roads. The safety administration urged state and local governments, drivers and safety advocates to join in an effort to reverse the rising death trend.

“Our nation has taken a dangerous and deadly step backwards in traffic safety and impaired driving,” said MADD National President Alex Otte, who urged strong public-private efforts akin to the seat belt and air bag public safety campaigns of the 1990s to stem reckless driving. “More families and more communities are feeling the crushing magnitude of this crisis on our roads.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/health-government-and-politics-pandemics-transportation-8388d8ca4b1ad141939fe07ce00f9c7f

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So people really did forget how to drive during COVID.

[Pobeka]

1. Almost everybody speeds here 10+ mph over the limit.

Roads that are not safe for those speeds. Slow down for a corner according to the warning curve sign? -- that's so not happening.

Simply slow down to the speed limit, and be a courteous driver, and everyone will have a better experience on the road, and still get to the destination on time.

But there is no enforcement.

Roads are where people first learn rules are to be followed in our society. Or more contemporarily, where people learn you can ignore the rules and nothing happens.

Police primarily show up to help clean up the accident site.

Those are my general observations.

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. I wish it was only 10 over the limit here.

[kimbutgar]

2. The driving in the area where I live in was crazy last year and has calmed down some

People were speeding more and driving erratically. A lot of people who took public transportation before Covid went back to driving and definitely forgot their skills.

This statistic doesn’t surprise me!

[global1]

3. During The Worst Of The Pandemic .....

Because of the lesser amount of cars on the road and because there was a lack of law enforcement on the roads - people started to drive recklessly. The biggest change was speeding - but there was a lot of out and out reckless driving going on as well. Weaving in and out of lanes. Non-use of directional signals when changing lanes. Tailgating. Passing on the right. Passing on the shoulder of the road and riding the shoulder.

I believe the lack of law enforcement was due to the police reluctant to stop anyone because of the threat to them to get Covid. As a result - drivers got more embolden and threw caution to the wind when driving.

Now that things are beginning to normalize - those habits that people developed during the worst of the pandemic - have just become common place for them and the reckless driving and speeding just continue and because of more traffic on the roads - the situation has become more dangerous. NOTE: There is still a lack of law enforcement on the roads and that doesn't help the situation.

It's actually scary driving on the expressways and roads these days. Also - people still are using their phones and texting while driving and that doesn't help the situation.

When I learned how to drive - there were public service announcements (PSA's) on the TV and Radio about safe driving habits; stopping distances; tailgating; speeding; etc. I haven't seen any such PSA's like that in years. I also had to take a driving course in high school before I was able to go test for my license back then.

One thing the government can do is to put out PSA's again encouraging safer driving habits. Put more law enforcement on the roads and make their presence known visibly and begin to watch for and ticket those driving recklessly.

I've become a safer driver now - and I know that I'm obeying the laws - but I worry about the other guy. I've made the comment more often than not lately - that I watch in my rear view mirror almost as much as I watch the road in front of me - because of the craziness that comes from you behind your car. If you are not aware - these drivers that speed by you and cutting in front of you without leaving enough room to get back in the lane - can startle one to cause an accident.

[JohnSJ]

4. I am not surprised. Here in California it has gotten much worse.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Yes, everyone learned to drive fast and down the middle of the road on curves

[Midnight Writer]

6. Seems to me drivers are more aggressive. Just my personal observation.

[oldsoftie]

7. A huge number every year that doesnt get enough attention.

[Marthe48]

8. The way people drive around here

I'm surprised that there isn't a wreck every minute. I have to drive about 2 miles on the main secondary road into town. Speed limit is 45, people fly past probably going 60. Or run stop signs and traffic lights to get into traffic. I waited for 3 idiots to run a light on my way home yesterday. It is a 2 lane road both directions, and I've see people turn left from the far right lane and right from the far left lane. It is people of all ages, and I think people in my age group are the worst offenders.

Highway patrol headquarters on the same road, and they travel the same road to and from town and beyond every shift change, but they do nothing.

People are scofflaws, careless and thoughtless.

[KS Toronado]

9. Texting while driving is probably up 10.5% over 2020

Almost all fatal accidents I read about locally mention they left the roadway and over corrected.
A few they rear ended another vehicle on interstate, how to you rear end somebody going 75 mph?
IMHO, if cell phone use was illegal in vehicles unless equipped with a hands free device,
fatalities would go down considerably.

[Turbineguy]

10. People drive like

they're expecting a nuclear war.