Speeding: Major Cause of Car Accidents
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Carmichael. Speeding is a major cause of car accidents. Not only does everything move quicker, including the time needed for reacting to dangers on the road, but the force of impact is greater. Learn why speed limits are not just the law but also a way to save lives.
Speeding Kills
In the year 2015, 35,092 individuals died in the United States due to car accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. For over 20 years, speeding has been a part of roughly 33 percent of all crash fatalities. In 2015, it accounted for approximately 27 percent of traffic fatalities or 9,475 deaths.
Using Measures to Address Excessive Speed
Speeding is not just traveling over the speed limit. It can also mean driving too fast for roadway conditions or racing. Not only does speeding take lives, it also drives the economic cost of accidents up. By doing that, other costs such as car insurance are increased. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, speeding frequently represents the actions of an aggressive driver. One recommendation by the GHSA is to run an enforcement campaign with high visibility to address it, especially in work and school zones.
Demographics of Speeding
Of all drivers, young males are the most likely to speed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As the age of the driver increases, the incidence of speeding recedes. Alcohol use is often involved in speeding accidents. At least 40 percent of crashes where speeding was involved also involve a blood alcohol level that exceeds the legal limit. Fifty-two percent of drivers who were speeding had a high BAC level. This corresponds to 26 percent of drivers who were obeying the speed limit. In addition, at least 70 percent of drivers who were traveling above the speed limit after midnight were also impaired. Speeding was a factor in 36 percent of all motorcycle accidents, 24 percent of passenger vehicle accidents and 7 percent of large truck crashes.
Seat Belt Use and Speed-Related Crashes
Less than half of drivers in fatal crashes who were younger than 21 wore seat belts. This contrasts with 70 percent of drivers who were not speeding. Those over 21 were restrained 45 percent of the time when speeding in a fatal accident. Seventy-four percent of this age group who were not speeding wore seat belts.
Other Accident Statistics
According to NHTSA, fatal car accident statistics for speeding were:
- 23 percent of speeding drivers did not have a valid license
- 30 percent of accidents happened on non-wet roads
- 34 percent of crashes occurred on rain covered roads
- 55 percent of fatal crashes on snow covered roads involved speeding
- Speeding occurred in 57 percent of fatal accidents on icy roads
- Speeding was involved in 32 percent of crashes in construction zones
- Close to 90 percent of speeding-related fatal accidents happened on roads that are not interstate highways.
Pedestrians and Speeding
A motor vehicle’s speed determines the fate of a pedestrian hit by a car or light truck. The ability of the motor vehicle to stop before striking a pedestrian depends on its speed. If, for example, a car is traveling at 30 mph before passing through a crosswalk, the driver will be able to stop in time before hitting a pedestrian first sighted 45 feet away. On the other hand, if the driver is going 35 mph when first seeing a pedestrian 45 feet away, he or she will still be moving at 18 mph at pedestrian impact and injury.
Carmichael Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Carmichael. If you or yours have been injured by a speeding driver, you have the right to be compensated for the financial loss precipitated by the accident. An experienced injury lawyer in Carmichael can assist you in filing a claim or lawsuit. Call me at (916) 921-6400 in the Carmichael area or (800) 404-5400 outside of it. If it is easier, you can contact me online on the website I founded and own, AutoAccident.com. I will provide you with free and friendly advice.
I have helped numerous Northern Californians and those in Carmichael with traumatic injuries resulting from:
If you need more information about my law practice go to Avvo, Yelp and Google.
Check out milliondollaradvocates.com. This is a forum composed of trial attorneys who have won settlements and verdicts of $1 million or more. I belong to it as a California member.
You can also check out my settlements and verdicts page to see what I have done for other clients.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/limit-speed-truck-lead-usa-signal-2299513/
Pictured in Final Image: Ed Smith, Car Accident Lawyer Carmichael
:cd [cs 806] cv