Ricketts Says Nebraskans Driving Less During Pandemic

LINCOLN - Gov. Pete Ricketts reported at his pandemic news conference Tuesday that traffic on Nebraska roadways continues to decrease, according to data from the last days of March and first days of April.

Ricketts: “If you look statewide we’re down 28 percent. Here in Lincoln it’s down 30 percent. In Omaha it’s down 33 percent. On our rural highways it’s down 22 percent. On other urban highways it’s down 28 percent.

“So you can see that people are continuing to make that effort, not to travel. Especially in Omaha, they went from down 28 percent to down 33 percent, a five percent improvement. So great job Omaha in controlling your driving.

He said the insurance company Allstate is responding to less miles driven by announcing it plans to return $1.8 million to policy holders because of reduced risk.

The Nebraska vehicle fuel tax generates $300 million annually.