For as long as there have been speed limits imposed on specific roadways, there have been motorists who have flouted those restrictions. Even as many jurisdictions have moved to increase speed limits and allow for a faster overall rate of travel on public roads, speeding has remained a significant issue. People often choose to drive at a rate faster than the posted limit and assume that as long as other vehicles maintain a similar speed, they don’t have to worry about a ticket. What many motorists fail to consider is that speeding is not just a technical infraction, it is actually a safety risk.
Speed limits exist because higher speeds have a strong association with severe and possibly fatal collisions. As motor vehicle travel has become a daily aspect of modern life, so too has speeding. Of course, vehicle design has improved significantly in recent years, which may make people feel safer on the roads. Yet, speeding is still a noteworthy safety concern.
Speeding issues are actually worse than ever
The idea that modern vehicles fare better on crash tests than those designs just a few decades ago may give people a false sense of safety on the road. Unfortunately, people who take their safety for granted are more likely to violate speed limits and other rules put in place for their protection. The statistics certainly seem to support the idea that speeding has become a more pressing of concern in recent years as opposed to less of an issue in traffic.
In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that the number of speeding-related fatal crashes has been on the rise in recent years. The number of traffic fatalities associated with speeding increased by 8% between 2020 and 2021. In 2021, roughly 29% of all traffic deaths involved speeding, which means that driving too fast cost 12,330 people their lives. The figures from 2021 represent a 14-year high and are indicative of a concerning trend in traffic safety.
Those who break the law are often liable
When a crash occurs and someone believes that speeding was the underlying cause of the crash, it is usually a good decision to notify police officers of that suspicion. Someone who violates traffic statutes may ultimately be a party liable for a crash that causes injury and financial losses for other people.
Those hurt in a crash caused by someone’s speeding may have the right to file an insurance claim or even a civil lawsuit against that at-fault party. Knowing about the biggest safety issues on the modern roads may help motorists limit their personal risk and hold others accountable when safety concerns can’t be neutralized effectively.
