Motor Vehicle Fatality Rates Up 14 Percent in March, Despite COVID-19 A recent report from the National Safety Council (NSC) shares some surprising and tragic news: fatalities from motor vehicle crashes jumped 14 percent in the month of March despite quarantines. May 22, 2020 As it turns out, the empty roads during the COVID-19 pandemic are riskier than before. According to a news release from NSC, while Americans have been driving less and covering fewer miles, the amount of motor vehicle deaths has increased in some places. Early data indicates a year-over-year 14 percent jump in fatality rates per miles driven in March, in spite of an 8 percent drop in the total number of roadway deaths compared to March 2019. The number of miles driven dropped 8.6 percent compared to the same time period last year. Still, the mileage death rate per 100 million vehicle miles driven was 1.22 in March compared to 1.07 in March 2019. The following states have seen an increase in roadway deaths within the first three months of 2020: Arkansas (16 percent), California (8 percent), Connecticut (42 percent), Illinois (11 percent), Louisiana (23 percent), Nevada (10 percent), New York (17 percent), North Carolina (10 percent), Oklahoma (9 percent), Tennessee (6 percent) and Texas (6 percent). The following states have seen decreases: Arizona (-4 percent), Hawaii (-32 percent), Idaho (-28 percent), Iowa (-13 percent), Maryland (-13 percent), Michigan (-12 percent), Oregon (-24 percent) and South Carolina (-12 percent). Unfortunately, many people die from roadway accidents during holiday weekends, including Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 22—Monday, May 25). Last year, the NSC estimated that 380 people would die on the road for 2019’s Memorial Day weekend, and an additional 43,300 may be injured. This year, NSC estimates 366 potential fatalities. If the estimate holds, it will be the lowest number of fatalities for the holiday period since 2014. Let's block ads! (Why?)