Driving Went Down. Fatalities Went Up. Here's Why
strongtowns.org
strongtowns.org
Idk why but combined with the dirt bike gangs and riots and protests it felt like we were tolerating lawlessness in a way that we hadn’t before. People just realized there weren’t consequences and started doing crazy things.
It's an interesting theory, and I believe that there is some truth to it. But I also believe that the events of 2020 did cause behavioral changes as well.
For instance, measuring population recklessness via vaccination rates isn't totally unreasonable, but it does conflate a lot to the point it's extremely questionable. For example, you could make the argument that many people have avoided vaccination precisely because they are extremely not reckless, trying to avoid unknown risks of the vaccines (I'm boostered at this point and would get another dose tomorrow if I could so I don't share this perspective, but it's there).
Your comment is relevant because I'm not sure the reckless driving hypothesis, or the one promoted by the author are really independent. They seem to think reckless driving is something different, but wouldn't lack of constraints from traffic congestion "reveal" reckless driving behavior?
I think you could take the author's same predictions and explain them via recklessness. They seem kind of like two different labels for the same thing at some level.
A more direct test might be to show that e.g., being in an accident during the pandemic was more strongly correlated with past risky driving indicators. E.g., the correlation between DUI history and accident event during the year was stronger during the pandemic. Maybe? It's interesting to think through, and I think important.
My observations of course could be confirmation bias, but I certainly felt it as a pedestrian and cyclist.
Toronto also suspended lots of low-level law enforcement like parking tickets, reinforcing an atmosphere of living outside normal rules.
For example, in Virginia, it is explicitly lawful to pass on the right on a multi-lane highway, Code Virg. § 46.2-841, available at https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/secti... and explicitly unlawful to remain at the prevailing traffic speed in the passing lane when someone is trying to pass, Code Virg. § 46.2-842.1 ("The driver of the overtaken vehicle shall move to the right to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass as soon as the overtaken vehicle can safely do so."), available at https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/secti... .
The left lane of a multi-lane highway is for passing. If you are going the speed limit in the left lane and someone is trying to pass you, you are still required to yield and allow them to overtake you.
This is the law in nearly every state (Alaska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland do not require you to get out of the left lane unless you are going below the speed limit).
https://www.vox.com/2014/6/16/5804590/slow-left-lane-driving...
From the link: Now, some people counter that as long as they're going the speed limit, they don't have to move over — and by slowing down would-be speeders, they're making the roads safer... Apart from the fact that in 44 states, simply going the speed limit doesn't permit drivers to travel in the left lane, this argument doesn't make a lot of sense based on research into how accidents occur.
There is a reason it is called a limit (in most places), and it is in fact illegal to exceed it. Speeding is also one of the primary factors in determining the severity of a crash.
If everyone got ticketed every time they exceeded the speed limits (not discussing implementation here, but there are ways that this could be automated), I'm sure our streets and roads would be much safer, and we could also have a meaningful discussion about what the speeds of roads should actually be. Currently, speed limits are nearly arbitrary and officers only enforce them when someone is going 10-15% over it or more.
I agree that we should look more closely at what these speed targets should be, but I'm not a fan of catering to the lowest common denominator exposed through testing...
I feel like licensing and general requirements for operating a vehicle are too lax. For example, I put snow tires on every year, but I don't know anyone else who does. Should the speed target be based off of my braking distance or theirs? So many vehicles in the US are less than fit for the road (as are many drivers).
Now if they actually started pulling people over for using their phones... That would help a lot and not require much thought to enforce.
Agreed, and I've actually seen signs for both on some highways.
> I feel like licensing and general requirements for operating a vehicle are too lax.
Agreed here as well. I wouldn't be opposed to have driving tests more than once in a lifetime. But this is a tough issue to tackle because I don't think a majority of people would be on board with it, and the DMVs are already being strained.
I believe I've seen the same signs on some highways, but usually they're like 40 mph minimum with a 60 mph limit. Which leaves a large delta, especially when people actually go 70 mph.
> I wouldn't be opposed to have driving tests more than once in a lifetime. But this is a tough issue to tackle
Same and agreed. Due to the fact that most everyone in the US has to drive just to survive you can't easily raise the barrier to entry. I wish we could though... maybe it would help spur investment in public transportation.
I'd actually love it if each lane of the highway had an increasing speed target from right to left as a rule i.e. 60 in the right, 65 in the middle, and 70 on the left. In reality if everyone goes the same exact speed then lane changes become difficult.
What if this is a manifestation of long COVID cases causing mental degradation? (Or other brain affecting diseases caused by unhealthier lifestyles under lockdown.)