Car Crashes, DUI Arrests Plummet During California's Lockdown

CALIFORNIA — Amid the pain and devastation wrought by the coronavirus, there have been some surprising silver linings. One such benefit: California's highways have never been safer, according to the California Highway Patrol.

As traffic volume has plummeted amid statewide stay-home orders, so, too have traffic accidents: everything from collisions to arrests for driving under the influence.

Crashes dropped by 75 percent from March 19 through April 30 this year compared to the same period last year, according to CHP data released Tuesday. The number of people killed in accidents dropped by 88 percent, and injuries declined by 62 percent.

Truck-involved collisions declined by 60 percent, including an 88 percent drop in fatal truck crashes, the CHP said.

Meanwhile, DUI arrests decreased by nearly 42 percent: 4,223 this year compared to more than 7,200 last year.

Only one problematic trend has seen an uptick: speeding. Tickets for drivers going more than 100 miles per hour have climbed to 2,738 this year, an increase of more than 46 percent, the CHP said.

"The open roads have led to a few brazen motorists testing the speed limit and eventually meeting up with a CHP officer for a citation," the agency said in a news release.

As counties across California begin to lift stay-home orders, it remains to be seen whether car accidents will spike once drivers get back on the roads.

Some communities, though, are pondering a post-virus future where cars are less central to our lives than they were before. Cities including Los Angeles and Oakland have opened miles of streets to pedestrians and bicyclists while closing them down to most vehicles — a change that's become permanent in other cities, including Seattle.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know