Many will recall the empty roads of the spring of 2020. It became an invitation for some drivers to speed on roads normally congested with traffic. On surface roads, this meant reckless driving and street racing. On the highways, there were a record numbers of drivers cited for going 100 mph or more. In fact, one Connecticut man live-streamed driving 100 mph in a 55 mph zone up to the moment he crashed – he lived and was arrested.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency recently published statistics confirming this reckless behavior:
- Despite a 13.2% drop in miles traveled, highway fatalities went up 7.2% in 2020 for a total of 38,680 deaths.
- It found a direct correlation between speeding and fatalities.
- There was also an uptick in the number of intoxicated drivers on the road.
- There was a slight downturn in seatbelt use.
Last year was a traumatic one on many levels, but as life returns to a new normal, data shows that the speeds of some reckless drivers have not gone back down to pre-pandemic levels. In fact, the number of tickets issued for motorists driving more than 100 mph in the first six months of 2021 was nearly double that of 2019.
“People are flying down the roads,” Maine State Police Cpl. Doug Cropper said of summer traffic on Interstate 95. “It’s just ridiculous.”
It is a dangerous time to be on the roads
Late summer is traditionally a busy time for travel, particularly motor vehicle travel. The travel season culminates with Labor Day weekend, when the roadways in New England and the Tri-State area are packed. Reckless, high-speed driving means more motor vehicle collisions. If you or a loved one is injured in a crash involving a high-speed driver, an experienced attorney can help.
