Thanks to the stay at home order for the COVID-19 pandemic, highways throughout California have unprecedented reductions in traffic. Most drivers are primarily staying on surface streets as they leave the house only to go to the grocery store, work, or medical appointments. While this could be leading to a significant reduction in the number of car accidents we’re seeing, this is not necessarily the case.
Unfortunately, some drivers are using these relatively empty roads as an excuse to speed. We know that speeding not only increases the number of accidents but increases the severity of accidents that do occur. Keep reading to find out how this speeding is affecting California and remember to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you are injured in an accident in California.
The California Highway Patrol Reports an Increase in Excessive Speeding
According to the CHP, there is a big increase in the number of drivers who are caught going more than 100 miles per hour compared to the same period last year. This can lead to dangerous collisions and very high fines, depending on how fast the driver is caught going.
In fact, the CHP reports that the number of speeding tickets issued for drivers going more than 100 miles per hour has increased by upwards of 40% in March 2020 compared to March 2019. However, the number of overall speeding tickets has gone done by almost 20%.
This is Not Only Happening on Highways and Thrill Seekers Are Not the Only Ones Involved
Even worse, this is not regulated to highways – there is also an increase in speeding in residential areas and business areas. While thrill seekers may make up a large portion of these people, police report that some motorists who have been pulled over say they did not know they were speeding due to no other vehicles driving near. In short, they say that the lack of vehicles prevents them from being able to gauge their own speed.
The Number of Accidents Has Gone Done
All of this said, there is a significant decrease in the number of accidents that have been reported in California. This is likely due to the reduction in people on the road. What we will need to look at as more statistics come in, is whether or not the accidents that are occurring are more dangerous than those in previous years.
Call an Attorney if You Are Injured in a Car Accident
In the event you are injured in a car accident, your first call after getting medical care should be to a personal injury attorney. Reach out to The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 and let us help you find the best way forward.
