Decline in Traffic Congestion Increased Crash Severity in the Wake of COVID-19.

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

SUBMITTER: Hughes JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10149483 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature