Across the nation, stay-at-home orders are interrupting life as we know it. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining. Since coronavirus lockdowns were implemented, traffic accidents and fatalities have gone down.
A study from the University of California, Davis (UCD) shows that social distancing measures have cut the prevalence of car accidents by up to 60% on certain highways. While most of the data are from California, the statistics can apply to other states around the country, especially where commuters and travelers crowd roadways.
In Washington, for example, fatal accidents are down 100%, serious car crash injuries are down by 78%, and motor vehicle accidents have declined by 67% overall.
While we don’t yet have statistics for Tulsa and the rest of Oklahoma, it’s heartening to know that our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 are saving lives in more ways than one.
STILL, TRUCK ACCIDENTS COULD INCREASE
The roadways may be less crowded, but FMCSA hours-of-service regulations have been suspended, which could lead to more tired truckers behind the wheel. Hours-of-service laws are designed to prevent driver fatigue and drowsy driving accidents, and the regulations have been temporarily suspended for the first time since 1938.
Read more about the FMCSA suspension here, and if you’ve been injured in a truck accident, contact our firm.
REMEMBER:
Although auto accidents have decreased in prevalence, you can still be harmed by someone else’s negligence on the road.
As such, please keep drive defensively and keep our safe driving tips in mind whenever you are behind the wheel.
Further, if you are injured in a car accident, you can still call Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC for legal help.
We are available at 918-492-7674 and online while social distancing measures are in place, and we hope to be back with you soon.
In the meantime, please stay safe, stay healthy, and don’t be a stranger if you need legal help.
*For the most accurate and up-to-date information on the COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO).