According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, traffic has decreased by more than 40% across the state between March 3rd and April 7th.
For the pros, we have less traffic congestion. Less congestion means less traffic jams. Also, there’s the potential for fewer crashes.
Anecdotally, we’ve seen the accidents that occur get cleared at a lightning pace, getting everyone back to normal right away.
Don’t forget about the lower emissions, so better air quality.
However, there are also some cons that you may not have considered.
Less traffic means more people speeding. Since speed is often a major factor in deadly crashes, we could see that accidents may have an increased risk of being deadly.
Another con is funding, or lack thereof. Less people on the roads means less gas being used, therefore lower gas tax collections.
That lack of gas taxes can make the already-difficult funding challenges for highways and other infrastructure even more dire.
As with pretty much every aspect of the Covid-19 crisis, it’s just plain too early to determine the long-term impacts. For now, those on the highway can continue to enjoy a delay-free commute.