The global pandemic and stay-at-home orders have caused less traffic on the road, which should mean there are less car related accidents; however,the opposite is true.. Although one might expect that a decrease in overall traffic would cause the amount of pedestrian accidents to correspondingly decrease, the rate of pedestrian fatalities in Connecticut has escalated.
Increases in Fatal Accidents
The entire country being on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic has led to less traffic on most major roadways. However, the increase in pedestrian accidents is alarming considering the current road and traffic conditions. The roads should be safer for all pedestrians — whether they are biking, running, or walking – and that means passing new laws and regulations regarding safe driving speeds. Drivers tend to incorrectly believe that since the roads are less populated, they can opt to drive faster.
Increases in Pedestrians On the Streets
The last year has been especially deadly in the number of pedestrian deaths. While the pandemic has reduced the amount of cars on the road, it has inversely brought out more pedestrians. As gyms and fitness centers have had to close down, individuals have looked to outdoor exercise as a replacement. This has led to more pedestrians being on the road, and drivers having to share the road with more bikers than they did previously.
Distracted Driving
While distracted driving could be a factor to blame for more accidents occurring, it is moreso a number of factors that have contributed to the increase in pedestrian deaths. Alcohol sales have greatly increased during the pandemic, so driving while under the influence is one potential contributing factor. Additionally, with fewer cars on the road, drivers may feel more inclined to disregard standard speeding and safety laws. Finally, simple distracted driving, such as driving with the radio too loud, is also a potential contributing factor to the increase in pedestrian deaths. Circumstances such as these result in unsafe driving behaviors, and subsequently cause more accidents.
Proposed Legislation
There have been bills proposed to help combat this issue of increased pedestrian accidents, but thus far, no bills have been passed.Currently, drivers only have to stop once a pedestrian is in the crosswalk; one of the proposed bills would have mandated that pedestrians have the right of way at all crosswalks if they indicate they will be crossing the road. This proposed bill also would have granted cities and towns to lower speed limits on local roads, as currently, the state must approve all speed limit change requests. If this proposal was passed, roads would have been made safer for pedestrians without putting a strain on monetary resources.
Contacting an Attorney
If you or a loved one were injured in a pedestrian accident, consider reaching out to one of our Bridgeport accident lawyers today. Our attorneys are skilled at navigating these types of cases and could help you get the compensation you deserve. We will walk you through your options and help alleviate some of your stress by helping you through the claims process.
