SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — With less drivers on the road, California Highway Patrol says traffic collisions and DUIs are down on the state's freeways.
According to the data compiled by CHP, the state has seen a 75% decrease in the number of crashes between March 19 and April 30, compared to the same period in 2019. There has also been a 88% decrease in the number of people killed and 62% drop in people injured in crashes.
The total number of truck-involved collisions also reduced 60% and fatal truck-involved crashes dropped 88%, the data showed.
"People are adhering to the order, eliminating non-essential travel, and as a result, there has been a significant reduction in the number of commuters on the highways," said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley.
The number of DUI arrests by CHP officers drop from 7,224 in March and April 2019 to 4,223 over the same period this year.
But stay-at-home orders have also sparked increases in other ways for the worse. CHP says that citations for speeding over 100 mph between March 19 and April 30 spiked 46% from last year.
"Resist the temptation to speed. Drivers are easier to spot when they are on a nearly empty roadway," added Stanley."Remember, taking care of one another goes beyond wearing a face covering and physical distancing. As communities in California move into the next phases of reopening, continue to slow down, pay attention to the road, drive sober, and keep yourself and those around you from becoming a grim statistic."
