The Pandemic's Traffic Safety Crisis, Explained

It's another one of those crises within a crisis, but driving has been more dangerous during the pandemic.

2 minute read

January 5, 2021, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


COVID-19 Mobility

Robi Jaffrey / Shutterstock

Christina Goldbaum revisits one of the tragedies inside the tragedy from the pandemic during 2020: increasing numbers of traffic fatalities.

Goldbaum cites the example of New York City specifically: "243 people died in traffic crashes in New York City in 2020 — making it the deadliest year on record since Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced his signature plan to improve street safety in 2014," but the trend was evident in locations all over the country.

Given how many fewer drivers were on the road this year, the traffic fatalities of 2020 defied precedent and logic. "Economic downturns and reduced congestion typically lead to fewer fatal crashes, federal researchers say. But during the pandemic, it seemed that drivers who felt cooped up in their homes flocked to wide open streets," writes Goldbaum. New York officials cited in the article say that most fatal crashes in 2020 involved vehicles traveling at high speeds, late at night, outside the urban core of Manhattan.

The article describes the causes of these effects, but much of the evidence is circumstantial. Police did write a lot more tickets for speeding in California, New York City, and Georgia, according to evidence cited in the article, but police in Minneapolis were widely reported as decreasing traffic enforcement after nationwide protests in response to the killing of George Floyd. 

The article concludes with a soundbite from Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, making an appeal to reject the car-centric status quo of pre-pandemic life in the United States.

It's also worth noting that with hospitals and intensive care units full all over the country, now is not a good time 

Friday, January 1, 2021 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Two people on bikes riding down paved Burke-Gilman bike trail in King County, Washington on a sunny day.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

2 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Small green ADU cottage in lush backyard in San Jose, California.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits

The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

3 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Large oak tree in meadow with sun filtering from behind it in Angeles National Forest.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods

Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.

4 hours ago - ASLA The Dirt