Stopping Speeding Means Stopping Serious Car Accidents
Speeding is one of the prevailing factors in traffic crashes and serious car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Serious car accidents affect victims, perpetrators and society for years. Damage done in a split second is often irreversible. Our car accident attorneys help clients who have suffered from head trauma, spinal cord injuries, amputations and other life-altering effects gain justice.In 2005, the cost of crash-related deaths and injuries among drivers and passengers was $70 billion, decreasing to $40.4 billion in 2010. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that those costs include medical care, treatment, rehabilitation and lost productivity. In 2009, more than 2.3 million adult drivers and passengers were treated in hospital emergency departments as a result of motor vehicle crashes. Speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes in 2010. The result: 10,395 people lost their lives in speeding-related crashes.
Never A Good Reason To Speed
At such a high cost, why do people continue to speed? “Focus on Safety, a Practical Guide to Automated Enforcement,” a report from the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running, shows that people speed and run red lights because:
- They’re in a hurry.
- They’re inattentive to their driving.
- They don’t take traffic laws seriously.
- They don’t think traffic laws apply to them.
- They don’t view their driving behavior as dangerous.
- They don’t expect to get caught.
None of these reasons justifies the catastrophic effect on human lives that so often results from speeding. Speeding is dangerous because it reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around obstacles and sudden changes on the road. Speeding extends the distance needed to stop a vehicle and increases the distance a vehicle travels while a driver reacts to a dangerous situation. Ultimately, speeding tremendously increases the severity of any crash.
Ways To Curb Speeding
Speed limits are determined according to the road environment and the location of special risks, such as school zones and road construction sites. Speeding is a habitual behavior; unfortunately, drivers do not always exercise self-control on the roads. The best way to curb speeding sometimes lies in enforcement, rather than relying on individuals to monitor themselves. Enforcement efforts include:
- Automatic speed enforcement/speed enforcement camera systems
- Police high-visibility enforcement coupled with media attention
- Speed monitors and regulators for commercial vehicles
- Road environment engineering
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Vital Signs: Nonfatal, Motor Vehicle —Occupant Injuries (2009) and Seat Belt Use (2008) Among Adults — United States,” Jan. 7, 2011
National Campaign to Stop Red Light Traffic Running, “Focus on Safety,” 2007
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Traffic Safety Facts, 2010 Data,” August 2012
National Safety Council, “Speeding“
