Traffic fatalities up with New England Massholes Number Two in the rankings by regions

– News from elsewhere covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added

Tragic fatal accident scene in New Hampshire
A Miranda-Thompson/AP image

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s first-quarter of 2022 traffic fatality estimates are in, and they were up by seven percent from last year’s comparable statistics.

So much, apparently, for $5 per gallon gasoline driving down traffic fatalities.

Especially troubling, fatalities in the New England were up by 22%, the second-highest regional increase, as well as over three times greater than the national average.

While the traffic data junkies on the Quincy Quarry trafficking desk are still crunching the numbers, it would appear safe to suggest the following, in no particular ranking, as likely factors.

Driving while under-caffeinated
Image via Reddit

While traffic levels are still down from pre-COVID pandemic levels, such results in less traffic congestion and so facilitates higher rates of speed possible – and, as we all know, speed kills.

To this verity, Massholes drivers have long focused on traffic fatalities to argue that they are not bad drivers when in fact Massachusetts experiences notorious traffic congestion which in turn reduces average driving speeds and thus results in less likely to be fatal accidents even if Massachusetts experiences a high rate of accidents overall.

it would also appear reasonable to assume that lingering impacts of time spent cooped up during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in weighing down lead feet while they are out and about.

“I have a medicinal Rx for Traffic Congestion Stress Disorder”
Image via hightimes.com

Additionally, one can only assume that the retail sale of marijuana has to play a role in the pop in traffic fatality rates even though there is no scientifically reliable means to test to discern if one is operating under the influence of marijuana that has scored judicial approval. 

After all, studies have found that accident rates while driving fried more than double within roughly two years after legalization of marijuana is enacted within a state.

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Sources:

• Report: Traffic fatalities from motor vehicle accidents increased by 7% in the first quarter
• US Road Fatalities Soared in Early 2022