Deadly wrecks, road rage shootings: Is COVID pandemic driving killing Missourians?
More than 1,000 people have died in traffic accidents in Missouri this year.
More people have died in vehicle crashes in the state this year than last year. And the year before that. And the year before that. In fact, 2021 may end up being the deadliest year on the state’s roads and highways since 2006.
It isn’t just Missouri. Nationally, in the first half of 2021, fatal wrecks jumped 18% from the first six months of 2020. (Kansas traffic deaths dropped in the first 6 months of 2021, which is good news.)
There are some explanations for these numbers: inattentive driving, failure to use seat belts, too much driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
But anyone who has climbed behind the wheel this year will have an obvious explanation. Too many motorists, it seems, have stopped caring about anyone but themselves.
Speed limits have become mere suggestions, to be disregarded at will. No one signals lane changes, or turns. Yielding to merging traffic is a lost skill. Tailgating is commonplace. Stop signs are nuisances.
In almost every way, drivers have abandoned any pretext of sharing the road, or watching out for others. “People are flying down the roads,” an officer on the East Coast told the Associated Press this summer. “It’s just ridiculous.”
Road rage incidents are up across the nation too. In early December, an apparent road rage dispute led to a shooting in Independence. Road rage played a role in the death of a driver near Ottawa, Kansas, in November. Bullets flew in rural Missouri this summer.
What is causing this mayhem and death? Some experts think the COVID-19 pandemic, and the nation’s response to it, have played important roles. In some areas, streets and highways have fewer cars and trucks, which has encouraged reckless behavior.
The long argument over personal responsibility and liberty is part of this story. It’s a small step from rejecting masks and vaccines as infringements on freedom to believing speed limits and stoplights are irrelevant, too.
But there’s a more fundamental concern. Americans may be losing their sense of shared responsibility, turning to a self-centeredness that extends into common areas and behaviors.
We once called this behavior rude. Now, rudeness is an everyday occurrence — on an airplane, in a theater, at the store, in a car or truck. It’s a poor way to live. It can be dangerous.
Engaging in dangerous behavior with belligerent drivers is always unwise. If you are afraid of another motorist, pull off the road or drive to a local police station. Authorities must send reckless drivers a message and prosecute road rage cases, too.
States and cities must do their best to curb anti-social roadway behavior, including better enforcement and infrastructure improvements. The National Safety Council has endorsed a “Safe Systems” approach that addresses speed, safer vehicles and better drivers.
Missouri’s Show-Me Zero campaign has a similar goal. “Personal responsibility is key,” says the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. “We must understand our need for speed is killing us and actively work to address the issue.”
Driving will continue to be less safe as long as drivers are convinced they can do whatever they want, whenever they want. So a change of approach is essential.
When you’re behind the wheel, try to remember: Others are on the road too. Their needs are just as urgent as yours. Their safety is equally important. They deserve as much courtesy as you would want for yourself.