There's definelty been less deaths since driving has gone way down. Hes just saying the death rates are higher.
It means fewer people are on the road and driving less, but the ones that are, are more likely to die.
For example:
You drive tipsy 1x/month after a party and commute every day. Your death rate is X.
During corona, you don’t commute, but still drive tipsy 1x/month. Your death rate is way higher. Maybe even 10X.
Crucially, your death rate per month remains unchanged.
PS: part of the effect is also lack of practice. You think your reflexes and skills are the same as when you drove daily. They are rusty.
This part kills a lot of middle age motorcyclists jumping back on the bike after 20 years.
I have always felt that the way humans share space with any kind of vehicle is perilous from a physics standpoint, relative to other risks in daily life. I actually think there will be a new type of city where they are separated by physical boundaries, levels and/or bridges etc.