Motor Vehicle Speed

Speeding is a huge cause of motor vehicle related deaths all over the country. In fact, approximately one third of all vehicle accidents are speed related. Common sense tells us that the faster a vehicle is going, the less time the driver has to react. The force of a collision at high speed on the human body must also be taken into consideration. Consequently, crashes at high speeds always bring about the most serious personal injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, society’s economic cost of speed related vehicle accidents is approximately $28 billion each year. 

Speeding, or driving faster than the recommended speed, is a premeditated and measured behavior that 90 percent of American licensed drivers admit to doing at least once in their lifetimes. Another 75 percent admit to speeding regularly. With odds like that, there isn’t much hope that the deadly statistics will drop any lower in coming years.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that all drivers speed at some point, some even unintentionally. It is not a behavior limited to a certain age group, location or demographic. Nor is it attributed to drivers with certain characteristics likes recklessness or thrill seekers. It was also noted that once Congress enacted the 55 mph speed limit across the nation to conserve fuel, a 16 percent decline in fatalities occurred. In 1995 and 1996 24 states raised their speed limits. Interstate highway fatalities increased by 15 percent. There was no change on the roadways that did not increase in speed limit.

Myriad studies have proven that the lowest risks for vehicle fatalities occur when motorists drive near or lower than the median speed. As speed increases, so does the risk of collision, injury and death. Many crashes can be avoided at lower speeds because it doesn’t take as long to stop an already slow driving car.

The road, weather and terrain also contribute to the dangers of speeding. Travelling at high rates of speed on a very curvy road, for instance, is almost a guarantee of crashing. Severe weather like rain and snow storms can also make speeding even more dangerous. Traffic accidents and road construction can also make speeding even more dangerous. Traffic is slower in these situations and when a speeder enters the fray grave danger can occur. Driving in excess of the recommended speed can make drivers lose control while in curves. Speeding makes ever accident it contributes too worse than it would have been otherwise.

There are many factors that, added to speeding, can cause tragic car accidents including:

• Fatigue and sleep driving
• Volume of traffic on the road
• DUI or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Severe weather
• Driving at night

Injuries from a high speed car accident run the gamut from death to cuts and scrapes. Seatbelts, airbags and other safety precautions can help stave off injury but the faster the speed involved the crash the worse the injuries will likely be.

While almost every driver speeds at some point in their driving career, it is an unsafe practice that should be avoided.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident, call Sacramento car accident attorney, Moseley Collins.  There is no fee to start and no cost to you unless we win. 

Moseley Collins Law
980 9th St
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 444-4444