As we all recall, one of the first impacts of the pandemic was a drastic reduction in the number of cars on the roads nationally as a result of the COVID-19 enforced lockdowns. However, studies conducted during the pandemic reflected that even with a reduction in the amount of traffic, fatal traffic accidents have been on the rise.
And so far, over the last year, that national trend is continuing, with Maryland very much in line with the national numbers.
Prior to the pandemic, Maryland saw approximately 115,000-120,000 accidents annually based on information from the Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO). However, in 2020, there was an almost 20% reduction in the number of total accidents, down to 95,507. However, despite this significant reduction in the number of accidents, there was a 7% spike in the number of traffic fatalities. That number tracked the national statistics almost exactly – according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the national average was around 6.8%.
What makes these numbers especially fascinating is that fatal accidents were the only type of accident to experience an increase in 2020. Accidents involving non-fatal injuries were about 23% lower than in prior years and accident involving only property damage declined by about 16%.
There are a number of theories explaining this apparent anomaly. First, less traffic on the roadways likely meant more instances of individuals speeding and driving more aggressively than would otherwise have been the case if the roads had been busier. Second, many people went weeks if not months without driving every day and that likely affected their driving skills and reflexes adversely. Certainly, it is not difficult to imagine how delayed response time (even minimal) could have disastrous consequences on the roadway.
