The COVID-19 pandemic influence on fatal car crashes and impaired driving in Arkansas

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on motor vehicle traffic patterns, leading to a noticeable decrease in traffic volume during the peak of the pandemic. Previous studies have highlighted an increase in risky driving behaviors during the pandemic, such as impaired driving and not wearing seatbelts. Despite reduced traffic, many states, including Arkansas experienced an increase in motor vehicle crash fatality rates. This trend highlights the need to better understand the factors associated with this trend. This study aimed to examine the potential role of impaired driving and the lack of restraint use in the rise of fatal crashes during the pandemic. Record-level data from fatal car crashes occurring in Arkansas between 2018 through 2021 were obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to compare restraint use among both deceased drivers and passengers before (January 1, 2018 through March 10, 2020) and during the pandemic (March 11, 2020 through December 31, 2021), as well as impaired driving among drivers who died in a crash and all drivers involved in fatal crashes during the study period. During the study period, there were 1,226 deceased drivers, 369 deceased passengers, and 2,200 drivers involved in fatal crashes. Among the 1,226 deceased drivers, there was a 34% decrease in the odds of seatbelt use during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic (p = 0.001). There were no significant changes in impaired driving among deceased drivers during the pandemic (AOR: 1.24; p = 0.09).Seatbelt use among the 369 deceased passengers did not change (AOR: 0.99; p = 0.96).Among the 2,200 drivers involved in fatal crashes, there was a 31% decrease in the odds of seatbelt use (p < 0.0001) and a 38% increase in the odds of impaired driving (p = 0.0002) during the pandemic when compared to before the pandemic. The increase in fatal car crashes during the pandemic may be attributed to the increase in impaired driving and decrease in restraint use. These findings highlight the need for public health interventions, such as sobriety checkpoints, public awareness campaigns, and strengthened enforcement to address impaired driving and promote restraint use.