Most of us are guilty of speeding at some time or another, and some people are chronic speeders. Regardless of where they’re going or what time of day it is, they’re going to drive too fast and put other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists’ safety at risk.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2017, speeding killed 9,717 people, accounting for more than a quarter (26%) of all traffic fatalities in that 12-month period. In the last 20 years, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities.
Speeding does much more than put other people’s lives in danger. It has far-ranging consequences that many people may not even realize:
- Speeding allows for greater potential for loss of control of your vehicle
- Speeding reduces the effectiveness of certain vehicle protection equipment
- Speeding increases the necessary stopping distance after the driver perceives something in his path
- Speeding makes crash impact more powerful, which leads to more serious injuries and increases the likelihood of a fatality in a collision
- Speeding results in an increase in fuel consumption
Why Are Drivers Speeding More Often than Ever Before?
Are more advanced and more numerous safety features on modern cars making drivers more confident that they can speed safely? Advanced safety technology like forward collision warning systems, blind spot monitoring systems, lane departure warning systems, and advanced braking systems are not intended to allow drivers to be “present” behind the wheel of the car. They are simply supplements to a driver’s skillful driving and good decision making while operating a motor vehicle.
Why Do People Speed?
The NHTSA has determined a number of factors that have resulted in more aggressive driving:
- Traffic congestion: Drivers are speeding to avoid traffic congested areas and are weaving in and out of lanes trying to avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic situations.
- Running late: Being late for work, meetings, school functions, and social engagements lead people to speed from destination to the next. Our busy lives are no excuse for endangering the lives of others, ourselves, and the passengers in our vehicles.
- Blatant disregard for the rules of the road.
What is Being Done to Curtail Speeding?
Many of us have received tickets in the mail thanks to cameras at stop lights, in construction barrels alongside of the road, and by law enforcement officers using more advanced tools to measure our driving speed. Many cities and counties across the country even have unoccupied police cars posted at high speed areas on roadways or even uniformed mannequins to get drivers to slow down. You will also see road signs on major interstates asking you to call a three digit number to report reckless drivers, and fines and other penalties for speeding are becoming much more serious. Advanced technology to catch speeders is being created on a regular basis because it’s a dangerous problem that’s getting out of hand.
A study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined U.S. passenger vehicle crashes from 2005 to 2014 and found that speeding was the main factor in 112,580 deaths, or about 31% of all traffic fatalities. During that same nine-year period, almost the exact number of people—112,948—were killed by drunk drivers.
As more and more cities and counties take actions to curtail speeding, we can do our part, too, by slowing down, taking note of posted speed limit signs, and leaving early enough for work and school that we don’t feel the need to speed to get to our destination on time.
If you received a traffic ticket for speeding, we can represent you.
Alternatively, if you were injured or a loved one killed by a driver who was ticketed for speeding or reckless driving, our attorneys handle personal injury claims.
Please call today for a confidential claim evaluation.