Risky driving all over the nation has caused an increase in traffic deaths since the pandemic began.

When the pandemic started, fewer drivers were on the roads because most people were staying at home.

But then risky driving behaviors began to increase, inducing more fatal car accidents.

Shawn Crank, Owner of COPS Driving Academy and an officer at Niles Police Department, says, "SO YOU HAVE HALF THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD, YOU WOULD THINK YOU'D HAVE HALF THE CRASHES TAKING PLACE, YOU KNOW. BUT IT DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY. WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING MORE SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURIES. I WOULD CONTRIBUTE THAT TO SPEED. WE ALL KNOW SPEED KILLS, AND SPEED CAUSES MAJOR INJURIES."

TRAFFIC FATALITIES ROSE NEARLY 5 PERCENT WITHIN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 2020, EVEN DURING PANDEMIC LOCKDOWNS.

An overall LACK OF TRAFFIC STOPS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.

Sergeant Michael Wilson with Ohio Highway Patrol says, "WHAT WE DID NOTICE IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE RELAXED IN OUR ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS BECAUSE NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE PANDEMIC. AS PEOPLE FIGURED OUT WE WERE A LITTLE MORE LENIENT; THE AGGRESSIVE VIOLATIONS WERE INCREASING."

Driving instructors had to cut down on time inside vehicles with students for safety reasons and conduct the parking lots tests.

This raised a major concern with allowing new drivers onto the roads prematurely.

"UNFORTUNATELY I BELIEVE WE'RE HAVING NEW DRIVERS THAT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE A LICENSE YET, THEY'RE NOT QUITE READY, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO PASS THIS TEST, THIS MAKESHIFT TEST THAT WE'RE USING RIGHT NOW," said Crank.