Decline in Traffic Congestion Increased Crash Severity in the Wake of COVID-19.
Transp Res Rec
; 2677(4): 892-903, 2023 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2315483
ABSTRACT
Highway fatalities are a leading cause of death in the U.S. and other industrialized countries. Using highly detailed crash, speed, and flow data, we show highway travel and motor vehicle crashes fell substantially in California during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we also show the frequency of severe crashes increased owing to lower traffic congestion and higher highway speeds. This "speed effect" is largest in counties with high pre-existing levels of congestion, and we show it partially or completely offsets the "VMT effect" of reduced vehicle miles traveled on total fatalities. During the first eleven weeks of the COVID-19 response, highway driving decreased by approximately 22% and total crashes decreased by 49%. While average speeds increased by a modest 2 to 3 mph across the state, they increased between 10 and 15 mph in several counties. The proportion of severe crashes increased nearly 5 percentage points, or 25%. While fatalities decreased initially following restrictions, increased speeds mitigated the effect of lower vehicle miles traveled on fatalities, yielding little to no reduction in fatalities later in the COVID period.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Transp Res Rec
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
03611981221103239
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