Accidents Are Down But Drivers Are More Reckless During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Let's be honest here, New Jersey isn't exactly held up as a model for safe, considerate motorists.

A positive side effect of the stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic is that highway deaths are at historic lows, but at the same time, researchers say that reckless driving is spiking in the meantime.

Earlier this week we told you about the zero-tolerance signs that have gone up on the Garden State Parkway in recent weeks that let speeders know that getting caught breaking the speed limit in Jersey will lead to a date with a judge.

Car and Driver reports that empty roads are too tempting for some, with California seeing a two-fold increase in tickets being issued to drivers hitting 100 MPH or more in the month since coronavirus stay-at-home orders began.

In New York City, automated speeding cameras caught double the speeders in March, after stay-at-home orders began, than they did in February.

But, fewer drivers on the roads has also lead to fewer tragedies on the roads.

Just today, NJ.com reported that last month marked a 50-year low in the number of April traffic deaths across New Jersey.

If you've been on the roads since the coronavirus pandemic began and it seemed to you like people were driving unusually recklessly, well, you're right.

But at least there are fewer lives being lost on the roads.

Now, the real test will be to see what happens when this is all over. Will the newly emboldened speeders keep their feet on the gas or will they slow down when more cars get back on our roads?