WASHINGTON — U.S. visitors deaths soared dramatically after coronavirus lockdowns resulted in 2020, hitting the best yearly whole since 2007 as extra Individuals engaged in unsafe habits on U.S. roads, the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration stated Thursday.

For all of 2020, 38,680 individuals died on U.S. roads — up 7.2 p.c or almost 2,600 greater than in 2019, although Individuals drove 13 p.c fewer miles, preliminary knowledge reveals. The fatality price hit 1.37 deaths per 100 million miles, the best determine since 2006.

Within the second half of 2020, the variety of visitors deaths was up greater than 13 p.c.

NHTSA stated the primary behaviors that drove this enhance embody: impaired driving, rushing and failure to put on seat belts.

“We intend to make use of all out there instruments to reverse these developments and cut back visitors fatalities and accidents,” stated performing NHTSA Administrator Steven Cliff.

In an open letter to drivers in January, NHTSA urged motion to handle the “horrible development.”

The company’s letter stated “fewer Individuals drove however those that did took extra dangers and had extra deadly crashes. … It’s irresponsible and unlawful to drive below the affect of medication or alcohol, which not solely places your life in danger however the lives of others.”

Some specialists say that as U.S. roads grew to become much less crowded, some motorists engaged in additional unsafe habits, together with those that perceived police have been much less more likely to subject tickets due to COVID-19, and knowledge suggests the next variety of critical crashes final 12 months concerned drug or alcohol use than beforehand.

NHTSA stated in October a research of early crash knowledge after the pandemic lockdowns discovered that “drivers who remained on the roads engaged in additional dangerous habits, together with rushing, failing to put on seat belts, and driving below the affect of medication or alcohol.”