Drivers may have hit the road less frequently in 2020 as pandemic restrictions and remote working kept people home, but federal and state agencies are reporting a deadly and concerning increase in crash fatalities.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 38,680 people died in car crashes in the United States in 2020. It was a 7.2 percent increase over the previous year, and the highest number of fatalities since 2007.
"NHTSA's analysis shows that the main behaviors that drove this increase include: impaired driving, speeding and failure to wear a seat belt," the organization said in a release.
In 2021, crash deaths are on pace to surpass even the stunningly high numbers in 2020.
According to the NHTSA, 20,160 people died in crashes, which is up 18.4 percent through the first half of 2020.
AAA's Jim Garrity said reckless driving habits have continued into 2021, even as more people get back on the road.
"We were seeing an increase during the pandemic and into 2021 of aggressive driving behaviors, like speeding 15 miles an hour over, following another vehicle closely, driving through red lights, making rude gestures," he said. "I know anecdotally I can say it just feels like driving up and down the road around (Pittsburgh) and around the area, people are maybe driving a little more aggressively than they had pre-pandemic."
In Pennsylvania, the numbers are matching closely with national data.
PennDOT says in 2020, roadway deaths were up six percent, despite a decline in daily vehicle miles traveled by 17 percent.
So far, preliminary data for 2021 shows an increase in Pennsylvania crash fatalities by nine percent.
"Even one life lost is one too many," said PennDOT spokesperson Jennifer Kuntch. "PennDOT urges all drivers to take a few simple actions that could save a life – slow down and never drive distracted or impaired. Additionally, buckling up the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones in a crash."
Crash data for 2021 is typically not finalized and released until spring of the following year.
