LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles metro area saw a 21% decrease in collisions during restrictions put in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19, according to an INRIX study released today.
The study analyzed data from the top 25 U.S. metro areas, and among those areas, Los Angeles has had the 19th largest reduction in crashes during the pandemic, the study said.
Interstate 10, which normally experiences the most collisions in the metro area, saw a 26% decrease in crashes since last year, according to the study.
New York City saw the largest reduction in crashes, with a 38% decrease. New York was followed by Phoenix, Seattle, Detroit, San Antonio, Boston, Minneapolis, Dallas, Sacramento, San Diego, Denver, San Francisco, Portland, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Orlando, then Los Angeles.
Overall nationwide, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) dropped, while vehicles' speeds increased between April and July, according to the report.
Overall, VMT nationwide dropped 46% in early April, compared to levels before the pandemic, but it bounced back to normal at the end of June, the study said. However, of the top 100 metro areas, only 45 have gone back to pre-pandemic levels of VMT.
INRIX began tracking, analyzing and reporting transportation trends since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was done by analyzing road conditions in the top 25 metro areas' busiest interstates, freeways, expressways and arterials.
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