While there are fewer drivers on the road these days, data now backs up what CHP and traffic watchers have already noticed: drivers who are out there are feeling much more comfortable bending the rules.
While the National Safety Council found a 20% drop in the amount of miles driven nationwide this March versus March of last year, there was a 14% jump in fatalities.
Now, a new study found that speeding is up by 17% since shelter-in-place orders went into effect around the country. Teletrac Navman gathers data from internet connected cars and has released national findings from the first 36 days of shelter orders.
CHP officials say they have also noticed that accidents over the last couple months tend to be more serious because of increased speeds.
“What was really fascinating was the direct correlation,” says Ben Williams with Teletrac Navman. “As we saw the number of miles decreased every day we saw a 17% increase during that time frame in the number and percentage of miles driven that was over the posted speed limit.”
The group has also seen a 10% increase in drivers blowing through stop signs and a 15% increase in unsafe cornering.
“Maybe make people think twice when they’re driving out there on an empty highway,” says Williams. “We have a high number of critical workers out there on the roads at the moment doing really important work.”