Speeding. Some Causes and Some Tactics for Staying Safe

As reported before – excessive speed causes close to a third of all highway fatalities annually.

Here’s a bit more about the harms of speeding:

• It triples the chances of an accident.
• According to AAA - it leads to more severe injuries:
  • At 40 mph, drivers have a 15% risk of serious injury.
  • That risk jumps to 78% at 55 mph and higher speeds. The risk here also includes a much higher risk of a facial fracture and severe brain injury.

One last statistic says it all. According to a recent study published by the Institute of Transport Economics, a 10% reduction in the mean speed of traffic would likely reduce fatal traffic crashes by 34%.

Well, now there’s a new concern. Researchers report a jump in vehicles traveling at speeds well above posted limits on America’s roads in the last two years.

What’s causing this rise in excessive speed?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), three factors are the primary causes:

• Traffic congestion. With more cars on the road, traffic congestion is more common and leads some drivers to behave aggressively – with frequent lane changes and excessive speed.
• Running late. Scheduling pressures – and overscheduling one’s days – leads some to drive too fast to make up for lost time.
• Disregard for the law. Some drivers simply flout the law and routinely drive aggressively.

So, what’s a driver to do if they encounter a speeder? NHTSA offers this specific advice[i]:

1. The left lane is considered the fast lane. If you are in that lane and someone wants to pass – move to the right and let them pass you.
2. Given that driving at excessive speeds leads to loss of control, create as much distance between your vehicle and the one that is speeding.
3. If you encounter an aggressive driver, do not engage with that driver in any way. Safely navigate away from their vehicle at your earliest opportunity.
4. Contact law enforcement if you believe a driver is following you in a harassing fashion.

If you or a loved one are ever injured in a car accident in Connecticut, know that the Connecticut car accident lawyers at RisCassi & Davis have been assisting people like you for over 65 years. And we have received both state and national recognition for our work in this area. If you are ever injured in an accident of any kind and would like a free consultation with one of our Connecticut injury lawyers, please contact us. There is no obligation.