Is Speeding A Serious Factor In Car Crashes?

Much of today’s driving safety talk revolves around distracted driving. But speeding remains a dangerous, life-threatening behavior that is still rampant throughout the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 9,262 people were killed in auto accidents linked to speeding in 2014. That year, speeding contributed to 28 percent of all deadly crashes.

So why does speeding remain commonplace? The NHTSA describes speeding as a type of aggressive driving behavior, and links its rise and prominence in the US to the following:

• Traffic congestion: Traffic is a frequently used excuse by anyone who speeds. We all have busy schedules and many of us commute long distances. When traffic is thrown into this mix, drivers may feel pressured to speed in an attempt to make up time.
• Running late: Many Americans have busy lives. We try to fit as much as possible into our days in order to meet the needs of our families and ourselves. Unfortunately, the result of a busy schedule can be a tendency to speed while you drive.
• Anonymity: Safely inside a car, a driver feels less involved in what is happening on the road. Inside a vehicle, a driver may feel less personally accountable for speeding because other drivers on the road don’t know or recognize you.
• General disregard for others: There are simply more people on the road these days, and the anonymity of driving in busy traffic may result in a lack of personal regard for people sharing the road with you.

 Speeding is serious. Posted speed limits are set based on safety agency recommendations for that specific stretch of roadway. When driving too fast for the road or for the conditions outside, there is a greater risk of losing control of the vehicle. A speeding driver also reduces the time available to react to unexpected situations and increases the distance required to come to a stop. When a speeding vehicle is involved in a car crash, the resulting injuries can be more severe and the car damage more catastrophic than if the vehicle had been traveling within the speed limit.

Many people are safe, responsible drivers. But even the most careful drivers may drive aggressively from time to time. If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident in South Bay or the surrounding areas of California, and if you want to find out if you have a case to pursue compensation, please call the experienced accident lawyers at Kirtland & Packard for a free case review, at 310-536-1000.

Source: nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding