Traffic Deaths Rise as Pandemic Cuts Traffic Enforcement

The COVID-19 pandemic will be one of the most memorable and bizarre situations most of us will go through in our lives. Over four years ago, the world virtually shut down. We were stuck in our homes, ordering takeout and social distancing, trying not to catch the virus that affected millions across the globe. 

With a sharp decrease in people on the road during the pandemic, police traffic stops similarly plummeted. Many local agencies instructed officers to avoid nonessential conduct with citizens.

Thankfully, the world has (mostly) returned to normal. Restaurants have reopened. People are traveling again. But with the return to normalcy also came an interesting pattern formed. In many cities, the number of cars on the road has returned to pre-pandemic levels. But what has not returned is traffic enforcement.

The New York Times recently published an article detailing how many major United States cities continue to show sharp decreases in traffic stops even as travel volume has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The decline in traffic stops can also be attributed to recent social movements in response to what many have perceived as injustice in police practices. Even before the pandemic, many held traffic stops have led to discrimination and excessive fines, rather than increasing road safety. With the pandemic following soon after, traffic enforcement continued to dwindle. 

Unfortunately, with the retreat of road enforcement, much of the country has also seen a sharp rise in road fatalities during the same period. The chart below from the New York Times article shows the percentage change of road deaths in the 30 largest United States cities from 2019-2022: 

Notably, Denver saw a 21% increase in traffic deaths from 2019-2022. While 2023 data is not yet available, it is expected the number will be similar.

Are Fewer Traffic Stops Directly Attributable to More Road Deaths?

While it may be impossible to determine whether less traffic enforcement is leading to more road deaths, many researchers and officials speculate the decline in traffic stops is doing more harm than good. It is impossible to ignore that most major cities have seen significantly more traffic deaths amid fewer traffic stops. Perhaps trying to overcorrect past transgressions, many officers have seemingly abandoned their efforts in pulling over reckless drivers. 

The chart below shows a 62% decrease in Denver traffic stops from 2018-2023, among the sharpest decline in the nation.

The decline in traffic stops occurs in cities that differ in significant ways. For instance, Denver has a camera enforcement program, whereas in Austin, Texas, traffic cameras are banned by state law. Still, both Denver and Austin are among the most significant cities in decreases in traffic stops. 

This trend is uniquely American. Compared to other high-income countries, the United States relies far more on police enforcement to produce road safety. As the New York Times details, many European and Asian countries have reduced traffic deaths by designing roads that discourage speeding and protect pedestrians, while deploying cameras. In contrast, the United States uses the police to make up for the lack of safer roads and cameras. Over time, many traffic stops have not served the purpose of promoting safety. Many traffic stops center around minor moving violations than inherently dangerous behavior.

This has caused a perilous cycle. With data showing traffic stops may not be very effective in preventing crime, local agencies have essentially abandoned stopping drivers for seemingly minor violations. However, that lack of enforcement has, in turn, also has relaxed drivers’ worries of being pulled over. That relaxation has caused many to test the limits of their freedom. As a result, drivers have employed increasingly dangerous tactics. Now, the relaxed enforcement cannot be so easily reversed.

Is There a Solution?

Many people blame the rise in traffic deaths on a shift in drivers’ mindsets as a response to fewer traffic stops. It is possible many drivers have less of an incentive to follow the rules of the road, knowing there is a much lower chance they will be pulled over. 

However, increasing traffic stops to approach pre-pandemic levels is not necessarily the easy fix it may seem. Traffic stops, like the one that led to the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, have been cited as examples of police brutality. Agencies are hesitant to increase traffic stops largely due to fear of similar incidents in an already tense social climate. 

Law enforcement faces pressure from many areas that makes increasing traffic stops risky. Liberals and conservatives both push narratives that disfavor increasing enforcement. Police unions do not want to put their officers in danger of encountering violence during what should be a routine traffic stop. 

As we get deeper into the data, decline of enforcement has been apparent for over a decade. DUI arrests have declined since 2010, even though there has not been a decline in alcohol-related fatalities. A federal survey found Americans reported fewer traffic stops as far back as the late 1990s.

Have Drivers Become More Dangerous?

Regardless of whether it is attributable to fewer traffic stops, traffic injuries and deaths have steadily increased across the country. Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. have seen alarming increases in traffic fatalities. Citizens describe roads being used as “racetracks” and stop lights being seen as “suggestions.” 

Many drivers are careless. But undoubtedly, some have a newfound sense of security that their violations will go unpunished. Without an effective solution on the horizon, it is an unfortunate reality that American roads will continue to get more dangerous. 

Researches urge increased police enforcement must aim at broadly shifting drivers’ attitudes, not just the specific behavior of the drivers punished. Unfortunately, there continues to be disagreement on the best methods to promote that attitude shift.

Police tactics like sobriety checkpoints or seatbelt checks have shown to be effective. However, it is less clear these tactics have helped broadly, even when the police are not present.

Contact a Colorado Personal Injury Law Firm

Our roads have become more dangerous. While officials argue about the best way to fix that, traffic injuries and deaths are on the rise. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident, you should not have to face the daunting situation alone. We are here to help.

The Colorado personal injury law firm of Bowman Law is here to answer your questions and discuss your case. Contact us, call, or email us for a free consultation. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have represented hundreds of drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists injured because of others’ negligence.

Our law firm is located in Denver and serves individuals throughout the Front Range, including Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins, Westminster, Lakewood, and Aurora.