CHP Says Stay-at-Home Orders Reduced Travel Related Deaths

Arcata Firefighters working on an early morning crash. telephone pole

Arcata Firefighters working on an early morning crash in 2019. [Photo from the Arcata Fire District]

Press release from the CHP:

While Californians observe the stay-at-home order during the Coronavirus pandemic, the state’s roadways and those who use them are seeing the impact.  With traffic volume down, the number of incidents on California’s roadways, including collisions and arrests for driving under the influence (DUI), continue to decline.

“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 California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Warren Stanley.

According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there was a 75 percent decrease in the number of crashes in California this year from March 19 to April 30, as compared to the same period in 2019.  Additionally, the same SWITRS data indicated an 88 percent reduction in the number of people killed and a 62 percent decrease in the number of people injured in crashes.  The total number of truck-involved collisions also saw a 60 percent drop, with fatal truck-involved crashes down 88 percent.

California’s crash reduction rate is not the only positive to come from the quieter roadways.  The number of DUI arrests made by CHP officers has decreased during March and April, from 7,224 in 2019 to 4,223 in 2020; nearly 42 percent.

However, not all of the state’s drivers have been on their best behavior during the pandemic.  The open roads have led to a few brazen motorists testing the speed limit and eventually meeting up with a CHP officer for a citation.  Between March 19 and April 30, CHP officers issued 2,738 4000 citations for speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour, which is an increase of 46 113 percent from last year.

“Resist the temptation to speed.  Drivers are easier to spot when they are on a nearly empty roadway,” added Commissioner 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.”

The mission of the CHP is to provide Safety, Service, and Security.

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33 Comments
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Craig
Guest
Craig
3 years ago

I suspect that more lives were probably be saved from a lower vehicle collision rate in Humboldt and neighboring counties, than from the virus itself.

FanOfGuest
Guest
FanOfGuest
3 years ago
Reply to  The Real Brian

Yes Brian, proven fact. If everyone hides under there bed and don’t go out of there home, less people will die. Because ultimately, saving more humans is the solution, not the problem right?

Wood
Guest
Wood
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

Brian’s link just shows how many fewer people died of the virus than would have if we hadn’t sheltered in place. This link shows that way more people are dying in the US than usual: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2020/05/02/excess-deaths-during-covid-19/?arc404=true

I like people
Guest
I like people
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

Are you going to volunteer to die to “solve the problem”? If not, please stop being so callous about loss of life.

FanOfGuest
Guest
FanOfGuest
3 years ago
Reply to  I like people

Overpopulation is the disease.

Ken
Guest
Ken
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

Dang FanOfGuest, did you forget to take your daily dose of hydroxychlo…..you know what I mean.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

Under “where” beds?

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

At least until the taxes that fund socialist programs run out.

FanOfGuest
Guest
FanOfGuest
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

75 million$ of ms Pelosis “hero fund” is going to illegal immigrants in California alone… because those are the real hero’s right?

Doggo the commie ☺
Guest
Doggo the commie ☺
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

Well Fanoguest, 450,000 undocumented farmworkers in California are currently working for minimum wage to KEEP FOOD ON YOUR TABLE.
Suck on it.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

What did socialists use before candles? Electricity.

Papa Wheelies
Guest
Papa Wheelies
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

Shelter In place.

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago

🕯🌳But as soon as it reopened we had three overturned trucks within a week. 🐸🖖🌍

FanOfGuest
Guest
FanOfGuest
3 years ago
Reply to  Willie Bray

Willi. Truckers never stoped trucking.

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

🕯🌳Just watched a special on them last night on PBS and apparently there one of the hardest hit individuals. That’s why some shelfs at the grocery are empty. 🌍🐸🖖

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Willie Bray

Really? You mean that without those who keep working through out the pandemic, those of you staying at home might not be able to stay safe? Wow. What a concept! That people who do not take risks are reliant on those who do- so much for the “we’re all in this together” blather.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  FanOfGuest

I suspect that with less drivers on the road, truckers were not being constantly slowed down by traffic, got to driving faster than normal and took the corner too fast. I watched the short video caught busy the hotel camera and he was moving fairly fast when it tipped over.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago

Oh wow, fewer people driving means fewer people crashing?! I never would have believed it! What’s next, you’re going to tell me the pope is catholic?!

Alek
Guest
Alek
3 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

This virus is effecting the people obsessing over it more than the people actually contracting it.
Turn off you devices and go enjoy the day and be nice to each other.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

The comparison just makes it clear to those who demand it that shutting people in their homes is not a magical alternative to curing a contagious disease. It forces a little perspective to those who won’t see other people’s frustrations as valid.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago

The CHP is going to need a stimulus to stay afloat after not being able to collect as much revenue through BS fines. I just hope the sheriff and chp are going to have to lay-off personell, but that will never happen.

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago

🕯🌳Carbon emissions are down by 17%.🌍🌍🌍🖖

hmm
Guest
hmm
3 years ago
Reply to  Willie Bray

And no one is suggesting we keep it that way. If you do you’re counted as insane, because somehow economy is important and ecology is not.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  hmm

The world is overpopulated, there’s no debating that, but wanting a a paycheck to feed your family is insane? Humboldt county’s population is just out of check with reality because we’ve been fortunate enough to have an extra source of income. Most areas do not. And even government employees will suffer once the tax revenue decreases.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

One major stumbling block with any social control agenda is it is guided by the principle that, while it is always good to bully people into doing what is wanted, it is never a good thing to make it easier for them to do it. For example plastic bottles- passing a law to make single use plastic bottles illegal is a lot cheaper than the government subsidizing alternatives like using tax money to design, collect and recycle metal or glass alternatives to make it easy for businesses to sell it. Or even using tariffs to increase the cost of imports to make them equally expensive to environmentally government controlled local products. No, American social agenda-ists are fond of orders but not fond of putting money into it lest it have the unpleasant side effect of making more money for greedy manufacturers and having less money to go directly to themselves.

hmm
Guest
hmm
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

You seem to have a comprehension problem.

Bryan
Guest
Bryan
3 years ago
Reply to  hmm

Curious, what should the population be and please explain your formula.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Bryan

Well the estimated earths population is 7,794,798,739 so I’m going to say 7,794,798,738, cause there is zero chance that my exgirlfriend is essential to anything

Bryan
Guest
Bryan
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike for the win!!

CHAS
Guest
CHAS
3 years ago

Mike, you think government employees will suffer? Not likely, the trough will still be full for all of those Assential workers. You know the ones that are home, not working, and still pulling a check out of the public trough. We’re getting along without them as we always will, just a bunch of leeches on the system.

Karen😁
Guest
Karen😁
3 years ago

In the US fatal collision rates are UP 14%

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Karen😁

“To be sure, the actual number of traffic deaths in the U.S. fell by 8% in March compared with a year earlier as miles traveled dropped 18.6%, according to the safety council. But Kolosh said deaths should have dropped by the same percentage as the number of miles driven.”

https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/20/us-roadway-death-rate-up-in-march-despite-virus-re/