Recent AAA Study Reveals How Driving Changed During COVID-19 Pandemic

August 8, 2021

AAA recently conducted a study to determine how people’s driving habits changed during the stay-at-home orders imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading to find out what they discovered. 

Driving Statistics During 2020

The AAA 2020 New American Driving Survey found that the average number of trips across all forms of transportation fell by 40 percent in April 2020, the first full month of the pandemic when the most stringent stay-at-home orders were imposed. Daily vehicle trips dropped by 45 percent. 

The study found that transportation rates slightly recovered during the second half of 2020, but remained below 2019 numbers.

The study also found that the number of people who stayed at home all day rose from around 10 percent to as high as 26 percent in April. This rate came down slightly but stabilized at a level higher than before the pandemic.  

Other Transportation Impacts Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic

The AAA study also reported specific reductions in other types of transportation. Rates of usage of forms of transport such as public transit, rideshare services, and taxis dropped from 5.5 percent to 1.7 percent in April 2020, climbing back up to about 2.4 percent during the latter half of 2020. 

Rideshare services were particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with people having nowhere to go during the early days of the pandemic and drivers worried about contracting the virus. However, even with widespread distribution, drivers have proven reluctant to return to driving for rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft, leading to greatly increased prices and wait times for passengers. 

The AAA study found that commuter travel has stabilized at a rate about 26 percent lower than before the pandemic.

Motor Vehicle Accident Fatalities Increase Despite Pandemic

Even though there were fewer vehicles on the road during the early weeks, with the recovery in traffic rates still below 2019 numbers, the AAA study also found that motor vehicle fatalities increased during 2020. Experts attribute the increase in traffic fatalities to the pandemic to the sharp decrease in vehicular traffic, which allowed those drivers who were still on the road during March, April, and May to travel at much greater speeds on open roads. Accident rates began to climb back up as more and more people got back on the road. However, those drivers who had gotten used to driving at excessive speeds during the early days of the pandemic didn’t slow down in the second half of 2020. When motor vehicle accidents occur at high speed, there is unfortunately a much greater chance of fatalities occurring.

What Can You Do If You Are Involved in a Car Accident?

If you have been injured in a car crash, you may be entitled to seek a financial recovery for your expenses and losses, such as:

• Repair bills for your vehicle, or your car’s cash value if it has been declared totaled
• Costs of treatment and rehabilitation of injuries you suffered in the crash
• Lost wages or loss of future earnings when you are kept from working due to injuries or permanent disabilities
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality or enjoyment of life

A car accident lawyer can help you to better understand your legal rights and options after being involved in a car wreck.

Contact a Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. represent clients injured because of car accidents in Pittsburgh and the surrounding Western PA counties. Call (412) 766-1455 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a  consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3634 California Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Home visits can be arranged in certain situations. 

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.