People are often frustrated when they get a speeding ticket because they didn’t think they were doing anything that serious. It feels like they are just being told to adhere to an arbitrary speed and then fined hundreds of dollars if they exceed it.
But the reason for speed limits is that it has been found that speed has a major impact on the risk that car accidents will occur and the severity of those that do. Speeding has been cited as a cause in roughly one-third of all fatal accidents, according to the National Safety Council.
Excessive speed makes an accident more likely
First of all, speeding reduces reaction times. These are very important to drivers because unexpected events are going to occur while you’re behind the wheel. Someone who is going 55 miles an hour generally has more time to react than someone who is driving at 80 miles an hour. Additionally, excessive speed can make it more likely that someone will lose control of their vehicle entirely. This could lead to a rollover accident when a driver is rounding a sharp corner, for instance.
Excessive speed makes accidents more serious
The second thing to keep in mind is that injuries are often more severe when accidents happen at higher speeds. This is a big part of the reason that rural roads are more dangerous than city streets. Those who get involved in an accident at lower speeds are more likely to survive and have less significant injuries. So, speeding may not cause all accidents, but it can definitely influence the severity and the odds of a fatality in re: those that do occur.
What options do you have?
Speeding is very common and, despite the statistics cited above, many people still believe it is not much of a safety issue. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to the actions of a negligent driver who was breaking the speed limit, make sure you know what legal steps you can take to seek compensation.