ISP reports lower crash numbers, drivers report insurance rebate

Indiana State Police say the number of crashes have decreased since the pandemic began.

They say part of this is due to the stay at home order.

News 18 spoke with drivers about the numbers and the impact it's having on insurance companies.

And understorms likymtlyoudy, with .

Chance of precipitation is%.

Wee decreased since the pandemicgane numbers and the impact it's having on insurance companies.

During governor eric holcomb's press conference on wednesday indiana state police superintendent doug carter reported more than 20,000 less crashes this year to date compared to last year's number of 80,000.

"obviously people are not moving like they did before.

But number two i really believe that this is changed behavior and i hope that behavior continues."

He says that trend continues in fatal crashes as well.

"just over the easter weekend we had 50% reduction in fatal crashes, this last easter.

It touches many, many families and it has a cascading affect on everything about us when those occur."

Decreasing numbers in crashes have created a wave among insurance companies too.

Earlier this week state farm announced it was cutting rates due to driving trends and fewer accidents.

Local state farm team member amanda procenti says fewer cars on the road has had an impact.

"a lot of claim activity is down because there's not many people on the road.

So in a general day maybe i would have four or five claims now we only have maybe one coming in."

Procenti says overall that's about a 70% decrease in the number of claims coming in for car accidents.

"the less claims that come in then generally the less money that state farm is out putting."

She says it could be a good thing for clients.

"it should in the long run help our by you know hopefully reducing some of their rates."

For driver carol owens she's reaping those benefits.

"i am getting a rebate check.

I just got an email that we should have them within the next two weeks."

Owens isn't surprised.

She says the longer people are encouraged to stay home it'll continue declining.

"i can see a decrease maybe with people not going to work.

You know less people out so it dsurprisee closed.

A lot of wrecks are drinking and driving."

In tippecanoe county, marvin bills news 18.

Two officers with the lebanon police department are in quarantine for two