Drivers who break the speed limit often do not think there is any reason to adjust their approach. If they get a speeding ticket, they may be frustrated, feeling like it’s just a way for the government to make money. They don’t actually think that speeding is dangerous, but rather that they are being told to adhere to an arbitrary limit.
However, there are a few key ways in which speeding is meaningful when it comes to public safety. The primary goals of a speed limit are to reduce the odds of an accident and to keep people safer when one does occur.
How speeding affects driving
In many ways, speeding affects how someone drives. It reduces their reaction time so that they may not be able to stop before a crash occurs. It can reduce the control they have over their vehicle, especially if they are operating in poor conditions, such as on wet roads. In other words, drivers literally are more likely to crash when they are breaking the speed limit, even if they feel that doing so is safe.
How speeding affects injuries
Speeding has a major impact on injury severity when a crash does occur. If the speed limit is 25 miles an hour, it is relatively unlikely someone will die in an accident. But if a driver is going 50 miles an hour, the odds of a fatality in the event of a crash go up significantly. Naturally, the odds of these fatal injuries are even higher for pedestrians or cyclists who are hit at higher speeds. Some studies have found that the odds that a pedestrian will pass away in a vehicle accident double for every extra 10 miles per hour. To a driver, 25 MPH and 35 MPH may not feel that much different, but there can be a massive difference if a pedestrian is struck by their car.
Have you been injured?
Unfortunately, speeding drivers are very common. If you’ve lost a loved one or suffered serious injuries due to a speeding driver’s approach, make sure you know exactly what legal steps to take at this time so that you can effectively seek compensation for medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages and more.