What a great time to be alive, amirite?
Nothing like a little pandemic to spice things up. Regardless of your political stance on the subject, things for the past year and a half have, well, truly sucked.
From babies to seniors, students to business owners, we have all had to make adjustments to how we live and accomplish things on a daily basis.
Things we took for granted, like seeing friends and family, getting or giving hugs, or heck, even wearing lipstick — now seem like blessings of the largest degree.
Effect on mental health and rise of drunk driving
We’ve all heard about the rise in mental health concerns given all that has been happening. I want to share some numbers and statistics about drunk driving specifically. Alcohol is self-medication and is being used excessively.
Over the last ten years overall, there has been a visible downward trend in drunk driving arrests and fatalities nationwide.
In fact, since 1985, the percentage of traffic fatalities that involved alcohol impairment has decreased by almost 31%. More recently, 2019 showed a marked decrease in drunk driving fatalities from 2018.
Sadly, COVID brought more than just shortness of breath with it. It brought depression, and a drunk driving-related fatality increase of almost 5% from the same period in 2019, DESPITE total miles traveled decreasing by 14.5%. (See the Insurance Information Institute, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for sources.)
More people in Florida equals more drivers
In Florida, particularly areas to which the entire country seems to be moving, you see a LOT of traffic. (I see you, Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch.) I mean, a lot a lot. More than a lot.
It is August and getting a dinner reservation at 6:30 on a Wednesday night is literally impossible. (Date night is ruined, but I digress.) I have mentioned it in other articles, blurbs, ads, emails, texts and phone calls, but I cannot stress enough the importance of carrying appropriate insurance, and specifically specifically Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage.
Right now, there is a tremendous number of people moving to Florida from out of state (WELCOME! and don’t forget you need to call Neil Lyons, Esq., , to have your new estate documents prepared and executed according to Florida law).
Insurance needs to be updated
I am willing to bet insurance carriers aren’t being notified of moves. Subsequently, there are going to be a lot of claims denied, even if those causing crashes carry the proper coverage.
I will FURTHER bet that once our new residents realize how much more expensive Florida auto insurance is than it is in their former home states, poor decisions will be made to carry less, or no, liability insurance and UM insurance.
I’m here to help when you need me, but as magical as I am with my wings and halo, I cannot create coverage where there is none. Please protect yourselves.