There is a significant surge in driving deaths on the days of U.S. presidential elections compared to other major events, according to a new study, and the fatalities keep going up.
Young Drivers of Canada, the country’s largest driving training organization, found the risk of fatalities on the roads on Election Day was 38 percent higher than on Super Bowl Sunday and 80 percent higher than on News Year’s Day.
The percentages were calculated as a net average across the elections in 2012, 2016, and 2020, and the report used data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding fatal motor vehicle crashes between the times of 08:00 a.m. and 07:59 p.m. on those years’ election days: November 6, November 8 and November 3, respectively.
The analysis found the 2016 election had the highest increase in deaths, with a 58 percent rise compared to Super Bowl Sunday and a 146 percent increase compared to New Year’s Day. It was recorded that for the 2012 election there were 138 fatal motor vehicle collisions, in 2016, there were 150 and in 2020, there were 173.
Commenting on the findings, Young Drivers’ chief operating officer Maria Bagdonas said, “Electioneers and public officials are urged to include safety warnings alongside their messages encouraging voter participation. Voters should be reminded to plan their trips carefully, allow extra time to reach polling stations, and avoid distractions while driving.”
She added that local governments are also “encouraged to bolster traffic enforcement on Presidential Election Day to mitigate the risks and ensure safer roads for everyone.”
“With the next U.S. Presidential Election fast approaching, safety should be prioritized, ensuring that voters can cast their ballots without becoming part of a tragic statistic,” she said in her statement.
When asked about whether she thinks this election will bring a higher risk than previous ones, Bagdonas told Newsweek that Young Drivers “would lean toward this Election Day being less safe for drivers based largely on the expected increase in voter turnout.”
Nationally, early voting trends indicate significant engagement. As of October 29, approximately 44 million early votes had been cast, suggesting a strong overall turnout.
“Both candidates will be encouraging voters to make the time to vote on Election Day, leading to potentially higher traffic volumes and further compounding the identified risks related to traffic volume, driving in unfamiliar areas and reduced traffic enforcement,” Bagdonas added.
She said that there is also an added risk when voters, who are currently on the fence, make “a last-minute decision to travel to the polling station in a highly charged emotional state.”
The study outlined that Election Day could be dangerous on the roads because of a number of factors, including driving anxiety – as fitting in time to vote, finding a parking space and queueing might increase the stress of the driver.
Having to navigate to unfamiliar polling locations or discussing election issues while driving could become distracting for the driver as well, increasing the risk on the road.
The increased volume of traffic could also result in greater opportunities for collisions as with more cars on the roads travelling to polling places as well as to work or for school, there is greater road congestion.
The report also mentioned reduced police presence as a factor contributing to a rise in driving deaths on Election Day, noting that law enforcement is often assigned to manage security and crowds at voting centers.
Newsweek contacted local police forces in a number of cities including New York City, Boston, Chicago and Houston out of hours via email for comment on what precautions local services are implementing for the upcoming election.
A final reason why the number of driving fatalities might be higher on Election Day could be due to individuals driving who may not typically drive or are not in a physical or mental state to do so, the report added.
When asked by Newsweek what precautions were in place for road safety ahead of the election, the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington D.C. sent Newsweek a statement saying the force was “working closely with our local, state, and federal partners as we prepare for the 2024 presidential election and Inauguration.”
“As with any other events in the District, it is our priority to ensure the safety and security of District residents and visitors,” the statement said.
“We recognize the importance of upholding the First Amendment rights of individuals to peacefully express their views, and we are committed to facilitating lawful demonstrations while maintaining public order.” the statement added.
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