COVID-19 has resulted in a significant decrease in traffic around the country. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have been reacted to the pandemic by limiting their interactions with the public in an effort to maintain social distancing and preserve public health. As a consequence, many agencies have become more lenient regarding speeding and minor traffic violations. Police are still issuing tickets and prioritizing public safety, but doing so in a way that minimizes the spread of a very infectious virus.
The reduced traffic in light of the pandemic has resulted in a drastic reduction in car crashes. The open roads, however, have been tempting for some car and motorcycle drivers to speed and break other traffic laws. In New York City, speed cameras issued 24,765 speeding tickets citywide on March 27, or nearly double the 12,672 tickets issued daily a month earlier.
In Iowa, the State Patrol has seen a spike in speeding in excess of 100 miles an hour. Officials warn those crashes at that rate of speed could be deadly and could use up valuable resources that would otherwise be used to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The California Highway Patrol recently issued a statement saying “It’s not a free pass to speed up on the highway. Just because there’s lighter traffic, it doesn’t mean you can text on your phone. It doesn’t mean you can drink and drive, and it doesn’t mean you can speed.”
COVID-19 has also affected many laws and regulations that govern road safety. If you are injured or hurt in an accident during the corona virus pandemic, a personal injury lawyer may help you better navigate the legal landscape to ensure your rights are protected and that you may be fairly compensated. For example, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has asked the state’s law enforcement agencies to grant a 60-day grace period to anyone driving with an expired license as residents are advised to avoid public spaces.
The federal agency that oversees the trucking industry has suspended time limits on driving hours for truckers delivering medical equipment, food, and sanitation supplies. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer lifted weight limits on all the state’s roads for trucks delivering crucial supplies. Los Angeles and New York City have relaxed enforcement of alternate-side parking policies used to clear roads for regular street cleaning as many more people are now working from home.
If you are injured as a result of a car crash an experienced personal injury lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona should be consulted. The litigation process can be explained, there should be no fees until a settlement is obtained.
Thanks to the Law Office of Paul Englander, PLC for their insight into personal injury claims and accidents involving speeding.