Speeders take advantage of empty highways during coronavirus pandemic
BOONE COUNTY — As we slowly reopened our economy Tuesday, more people were on the road again. Missouri Highway Patrol Troopers wanted motorists to slow down after they took advantage of empty highways.
Troopers saw a reduction of more than 40% in traffic on Central Missouri roadways during the global pandemic. At the same time, they saw an increase in drivers during the pandemic traveling at more than 100 miles per hour. Troopers said more people were speeding because there was less traffic during the pandemic. Troopers recently clocked motorists at 112, 108, 106 and 115 miles per hour.
“It’s not only dangerous for you driving that fast, but it’s also dangerous for everybody that you are around," Missouri Highway Patrol Trooper Brandon Harris said. "All the cars that are on the roadway, they are not expecting somebody to be passing them at 100 miles per hour. They could easily be changing lanes are merging onto traffic. If you’re going that fast, they may not be able to stop or see you coming.”
Troopers set up a speed monitoring trailer in the southbound lanes of Highway 63 near Ashland for 20 days during April 2019 and April 2020. The monitor recorded more than 17,000 fewer vehicles over the same 20-day period in 2019, but more than 150 more speeders traveling at more than 80 miles per hour in 2020. Some Ashland motorists said it was not unusual to see some driving more than 90 miles per hour on Highway 63.
“I don’t see the need for it," Motorist Dave Tucker said. "It’s dangerous to speed, so why take the chance even though there are fewer cars on the highway. It’s not safe.”
Motorist John Epperson said, “Everybody speeds. You see very little cops. They’re taking advantage.”
Motorist Spencer Crump said, “You got to watch it. It’s dangerous out there when they’re passing you and stuff like that. They come on you and up behind you fast. You either got to get out of the way, step on the gas or let them pass.”
Troopers said people needed to slow down as more vehicles returned to our roads and highways. Troopers said the faster a car was going when involved in a crash, the more severe that crash will be.
