At the beginning of May, we reported that fatal motor vehicle crashes in Connecticut had skyrocketed when compared to the same period last year, despite there being a significant reduction in driving in March and April 2020 due to the pandemic lockdown.

It’s no secret that speed kills and it’s not your imagination that since the #StayHomeStaySafe lockdown, there has been a dramatic increase in people choosing to drive far above the posted speed limit. Connecticut’s Department of Transportation has been monitoring speed around the state, and you can see a stark change.

The chart below shows what percentage of vehicles were traveling above the posted speed limit of 55 MPH on Route 15 in Hamden:

Looking at another part of the state, you can see the change in speed on I-95 in East Lyme, where the posted speed limit is 65 MPH:

While there have been fewer crashes resulting in injuries or property damage during the lockdown, there have been more fatal crashes. There have been at least two pedestrian fatalities so far this month and multiple deaths of those using cars and motorcycles across the state.

Featured image: from CT DOT, chart shows daily traffic volume in Hamden from just before and throughout the lockdown.