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Emptier US roads more lethal in coronavirus pandemic, report says
May 21, 2020
US roads have become more lethal even though Americans are driving less due to coronavirus quarantine and stay-at-home orders, a new report has found.
Early data indicate a year-on-year 14% jump in fatality rates per distance driven in March, the document by the National Safety Council (NSC) says.
The number of miles driven during the month dropped by more than 18%.
However, the overall number of roadway deaths across the US in March fell by 8% to 2,690.
Deaths for the current year have so far totalled 8,460.
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Speeding - key factor
The mileage death rate per 100 million vehicle miles driven was 1.22 in March compared with 1.07 in March 2019, the NSC report said.
"Disturbingly, we have open lanes of traffic and an apparent open season on reckless driving," said NSC President Lorraine M Martin.
"Right now, in the midst of a global pandemic and crisis, we should take it as our civic duty to drive safely.
"If we won't do it for ourselves, we should do it for our first responders, our law enforcement and our healthcare workers, who are rightly focused on coronavirus patients and should not be overwhelmed by preventable car crashes," Ms Martin said.
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