DC, VA Traffic Fatalities Spike After COVID-19 Lockdowns: Report

MARYLAND — The variety of deadly crashes on Washington, D.C., and Virginia roads spiked in 2021 as drivers logged extra miles following widespread COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, in response to a brand new report by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration.

A complete of 42,939 individuals had been killed in motorized vehicle accidents on U.S. roadways in 2021, essentially the most important variety of fatalities in a single 12 months since 2005, in response to the report. The quantity additionally represents a ten p.c improve from 2020, when simply over 39,000 individuals had been killed.

In Virginia, 973 individuals died in traffic-related accidents, a 14.5 p.c improve over 2020. In D.C., 41 individuals died, marking a 13.9 p.c improve over 2020, in response to the report.

Visitors deaths attributed to alcohol use elevated dramatically in Washington, D.C., in response to the report. About 30 p.c of all visitors fatalities within the District — or 12 deaths — resulted from alcohol use, up 50 p.c from 2020.

In the meantime, deaths attributed to alcohol use dropped marginally in Virginia, down 0.7 p.c in 2021 from the 12 months prior.

Nationwide research analyzing the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on visitors and security confirmed that the variety of miles traveled by motorists decreased sharply primarily because of the journey restrictions, in response to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being.

Regardless of the drop through the early months of COVID-19 lockdowns, the variety of miles traveled by U.S. drivers rebounded to just about pre-pandemic ranges by June 2020, in response to the NHTSA, and continued to climb into 2021.

Nevertheless, researchers at NIH additionally observed a spike in dangerous behaviors, together with rushing and driving underneath the affect of medication.

Numbers within the NHTSA report replicate that conclusion. Nationwide speeding-related fatalities elevated by 7.9 p.c in 2021, alcohol-impaired fatalities elevated by 14 p.c, and seat belt non-use fatalities elevated by 8.1 p.c.

All through 2021, the variety of miles traveled in a car elevated by 11 p.c over 2020, the report mentioned.

Distracted driving additionally affected the variety of fatalities on U.S. roads in 2021, in response to the report. The truth is, fatalities in distraction-related crashes elevated by 12 p.c nationwide, from 3,154 individuals in 2020 to three,522 in 2021.

In response to the report, distracted driving accounted for 8.2 p.c of all reported fatalities.

Learn the complete report on-line.