While most residents are still sheltering-in-place in an attempt to control the spread of COVID-19, some cannot seem to get away fast enough. The Kansas City Police Department has reported that although the roads are mostly empty, there has been a huge uptick in speeding. They even reported issuing tickets to a number of individuals going over 100 miles per hour. KCPD theorizes that people are taking advantage of the open roadways.
National Trend
Kansas City is not alone in this uptick. In fact, in California, issuance of speeding tickets for violations in excess of 100 mph have soared by 87% since the state’s shelter-in-place order went into effect on March 19. In fact, the California Highway Patrol issued 2,493 tickets for speeding in excess of 100 mph since that time. One reckless driver in California was ticketed going 165 mph. He was arrested and charged with speeding, reckless driving and driving without a license, an official told the Los Angeles Times.
Chicago, Ohio, and New York reflect similar statistics. New York issued 24,765 speeding tickets in a single day on March 27 and reported that vehicles were taking advantage of the traffic-free city by openly drag racing on major roads and highways, including Sixth Avenue and the West Side Highway in Manhattan.
The Cause
All Officers questioned seemed to agree that when traffic decreases, speeding increases. However, it is likely that there are a number of contributing factors. While the opportunity presented by open roadways is certainly a big one, people are also experiencing heightened anxiety due to the pandemic. Anxiety is essentially the activation of the fight-or-flight part of the brain, so it makes sense that when operating in an anxious state, one could experience feelings of being in a rush, needing to hurry, or speeding—essentially living in survival mode.
The Danger
All Officers questioned seemed to agree that when traffic decreases, speeding increases. However, it is likely that there are a number of contributing factors. While the opportunity presented by open roadways is certainly a big one, people are also experiencing heightened anxiety due to the pandemic. Anxiety is essentially the activation of the fight-or-flight part of the brain, so it makes sense that when operating in an anxious state, one could experience feelings of being in a rush, needing to hurry, or speeding—essentially living in survival mode.
What You Can Do
Allow yourself plenty of time for travel so you will not feel any need to rush while driving. Before you start driving, sit and take a few deep breaths. Place your hand on your abdomen and make sure you can feel it rising and falling as you breathe in and out. Stay present when driving and adhere to the posted speed limits.
Call an Experienced Kansas City, Missouri Speeding Ticket Attorney
If you have received a speeding ticket in Missouri, contact Aimee the Attorney, your Kansas City Traffic Ticket Lawyer, for a free consultation. Aimee Gromowsky is a former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County. She has over 19 years of experience in Kansas and Missouri courts and handles thousands of cases in the Kansas City, Missouri area every year. If anyone can wipe your record clean, it is her! Contact her today.
