Did Covid Make Us Worse Drivers?

Most Americans think so, according to a report from Pew Research Center.

Road fatalities have declined since the peak of the pandemic. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says quarterly road fatalities have been steadily declining since the spring of 2022. If the NHTSA’s preliminary estimates hold true, 2024 traffic fatalities will fall below 40,000 for the first time since 2020.

Still, about half of people surveyed said people in their communities drive less safely than they did five years ago. 

What Americans are Saying about Other Drivers

People who drive more regularly are more likely to report that driving skills in their communities have deteriorated. 51% of those who drove at least once a week said people drive less safely now. Just 36% of those who drive less said the same. Similarly, suburban drivers were more likely to report a decline in safe driving practices than either rural or urban drivers.

What Dangerous Driving Behaviors are People Seeing? 

Distracted driving takes the lead, with 78% of survey respondents saying people being distracted by cell phones is a major problem in their areas. Other behaviors reported include: 

• Speeding and aggressive driving: 63% said speeding, tailgating, running red lights or weaving through traffic were major local issues. 
• Driving under the influence: 51% cited driving under the influence of alcohol as a major problem in their communities. 
• Putting vulnerable road users at risk: 47% said driving in a way that put pedestrians or bicyclists at risk was a major issue.
• Driving under the influence of marijuana: While drivers were less likely to say this was a major concern than they were driving under the influence of alcohol, 37% said it was a major problem. 

27% said they saw drivers exhibiting road rage very often or extremely often, and another 45% said they saw road rage sometimes. 

What Do Perceptions Say about Driver Behavior? 

Survey respondents in different areas saw different driving behaviors as being more (or less) problematic. But, that doesn’t necessarily reflect a difference in the care drivers in those areas are taking. 

For example, urban drivers are more likely to say that drivers being distracted by cell phones is a major problem, and rural drivers are the least likely to say so. But, since traffic is more densely concentrated in urban areas, urban drivers are both more likely to notice those sorts of behaviors and may more frequently have to drive defensively as a result. Similarly, urban drivers are more likely to call out driving behaviors that put pedestrians and cyclists at risk–but the concentration of pedestrians and cyclists is much greater in urban areas than rural ones. 

Drivers in rural areas are the least likely to report that speeding is a major concern. But, with more highways and less traffic, that may be simply because they don’t see speeding as dangerous in the same way those in higher-traffic areas with more foot traffic and lower speed limits might.

Holding Negligent Drivers Responsible

The behaviors discussed above all have one thing in common: engaging in them on the road is negligent. That means a driver who causes an accident because they are speeding, driving aggressively, under the influence of drugs or alcohol or otherwise acting negligently will likely be found liable for that accident.

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you could be entitled to damages such as reimbursement for your medical expenses, the cost of repairing your vehicle, lost income while you were recovering from your injuries, and even pain and suffering. The best way to learn more about your rights and options after a car accident is to speak to an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer like Kevin P. Broderick. The Broderick Law Firm serves injured people in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Call us today at 978-459-3085 or fill out our contact form.