b'WHY LESS TRAFFICMEANS MORE DANGERDuring the COVID-19 crisis, the internet was flooded with imagesShawn Fahey, corporate safety manager at Flagger Force, notes,What makes roads with lighter traffic more dangerous? NHTSA of empty highways and roads. From London to Chicago to LosWhenever there is a global or national situation that causesnotes that speed is a leading risk factor. Speed limits in urban Angeles, with almost empty roads in every city and state, manyanxiety or sadness, studies show alcohol and drug usage tendareas force drivers to slow down, giving them more time to react people assumed that this crisis would result in fewer accidentsto increase as well. Its important for motorists to remember thatto risks. When speed limits skyrocket in rural areas, even small and road fatalities. However, despite an unprecedented drivers are more likely to be under the influence.mistakes can result in death. In Wyoming, the state with thereduction in traffic, many areas saw an uptick in deadly He emphasizes that defensive driving is even more importantsecond highest traffic fatality rate in the country, rural roadsaccidents on previously crowded roads. during stressful times. Lack of sleep means that drowsinesshave an 80 mile per hour speed limit. At such high speeds,According to an April 16, 2020 report from the Governors behind the wheel is also a problem. People may have troubleWyoming residents can quickly find themselves inHighway Safety Association, In New York City, despite far fewerfocusing, resulting in distracted driving, says Fahey. life-threatening circumstances.vehicles on the road, the citys automated speed cameras issuedWhile these reports may be surprising to some, dangerous The NHTSA study also concludes that when traffic is light,24,765 speeding tickets citywide on March 27, or nearly doublebehavior on light traffic roads is nothing new. Studies suggestdrivers tend to take fewer precautions. They are less likely to use the 12,672 tickets issued daily a month earlier. In Los Angeles,that low-traffic roads can be more deadly than congested seat belts and are more likely to ignore stop signs or traffic lights. speeds are up by as much as 30% on some streets, promptingroadways. And these safety concerns about lightly traveledFahey adds, Good driving habits tend to break down when changes to traffic lights and pedestrian walk signals. roads dont go away once the crisis passes. The dangers of lowtheres less traffic. Drivers are inclined to operate under the California highway patrol officer Jim Bettencourt told the Sanvolume roads have been studied extensively by the Nationalassumption that, since they arent seeing a lot of cars, its okay Diego Union-Tribune in March 2020 that low-traffic on freewaysHighway Safety and Traffic Association (NHTSA). They conductto break the rules.changed driver behavior. With no traffic, people are pushing annual studies that compare fatality rates in rural areas (lightHe adds, Our temporary traffic control crews have to avoid the envelope a little more. The crashes are a little more traffic) to urban areas (high traffic). making assumptions. They dont have an expectation that dynamic, fewer fender-benders. Almost every one has an The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also conductedmotorists are going to be aware of where our crew is standing or ambulance responding. research in 2017 that concluded adult drivers and passengerswhere the client is working. Fahey concludes, I am very proud in Americas most rural counties had motor-vehicle death ratesof our team and how safely theyve been able to operate in the three to 10 times higher than those in the most urban counties.months of the crisis. Changes in driving behavior make a lot of the existing safety concepts that we already have in place all the more important.TEN ELEVEN'