Car crash statistics took an ironic and tragic turn during the Covid-19 pandemic. Roadway fatalities went way up in 2020. According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 8% more people died in traffic accidents as compared to 2019. Illinois fared even worse than the national average. According to IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation), Illinois saw a 16% higher number of fatalities in 2020, with the trend expected to continue. As of August of 2021, that figure rose by another 6% in our state.
In Illinois, as in most parts of the country, more people stayed home in 2020 due to the stay at home orders and the trend towards remote work. As a society, we were suddenly doing everything from the comfort of home. Naturally, driving was down. The number of people on the road was so much lower than it had been, that even some insurance companies issued partial premium refunds. Not surprisingly, auto accident claims were back up again as of late 2021, with corresponding premium increases. There is no doubt that less cars were on the road at the outset of the pandemic. We all remember the eerie quiet on the streets in the spring of 2020. As one would expect, with fewer drivers on the road, the actual number of car accidents was lower in 2020 as compared to the previous year. Unfortunately, the crashes that we did see resulted in greater injuries and more deaths.
Despite fewer cars on the road last year, more serious car accidents occurred than normal. According to state officials, speeding, reckless driving and impaired driving (such as driving under the influence) all increased in 2020. If people were driving more irresponsibly, it makes these dire statistics seem less surprising.
We don’t know why people drove faster and were more likely to drink and drive during the pandemic, but one theory for the greater speeds is the relatively open roads that we saw early on. Open roads allow more room to exceed the speed limits without other vehicles getting in the way, until one does and a crash occurs. Alcohol sales also soared in the early days of the pandemic, with many people too inebriated to realize how much they had to drink before taking a drive, even if just to escape the confining walls of home for a while. Some might even argue that after long periods at home, people forgot how to drive responsibly.
What is being done about all of the tragic car accidents during Covid?
President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan was set to pour much needed funding into our roadways, to create safer streets. During the 2021 construction season, the City of Chicago’s Capital Plan resurfaced over 100 miles of streets. Yet more work is needed, including better designs for our roadways. In 2019, Consumer Affairs research teams ranked states by the best and worst roads. While Illinois did not make the top ten list for the best streets, neither did we rank in the worst ten. The honors for best roads went to Wyoming, Kansas and Minnesota. The states of South Carolina, Louisiana and Hawaii were ranked as the worst.
While infrastructure is certainly important, safety begins first and foremost with you- the driver. Watch your speed. Pay attention to the road, which means not only must your phone be out of sight, but be aware of other distractions. Pay attention! It only takes a split second for an accident to happen. Be aware of the trends mentioned above. You must always drive defensively and never just assume that other drivers will do what they are supposed to. Teach your teens about the awesome responsibility that comes with having a license. Be aware of your own response to what is happening and never let your anger, fear or frustration come out while behind the wheel.
Car accidents will always be a fact of life, unfortunately. If you’ve been seriously hurt in a car accident in or around Chicago and the accident was someone else’s fault, we can help. Talk to us before you speak to the other insurance company. Our injury related consultations are at no cost with no obligation.