Smart Motorist

The economic cost to US society of speeding-related crashes is estimated at $27.7 billion per year.

In 1998, nearly 42,000 people were killed in traffic crashes and almost 3.2 million more were injured, at a cost of over $150 billion. Speed - defined as exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions - is a factor in nearly one third of all fatal crashes. Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that when speed limits were raised by many states in 1996, travel speeds increased and motor vehicle fatalities went up significantly on Interstate highways in those states.

Speed reduces the amount of available time needed to avoid a crash, increases the likelihood of crashing and increases the severity of a crash once it occurs. The public needs to be made more aware of the dangers of speeding. If we are to combat this dangerous, life-threatening behavior, we must devote increased resources to better enforcement, including more law enforcement officers to patrol the highways, and we must support technological advances, such as video cameras, to target aggressive, speeding drivers.

SPEEDING FACTS

• Speed was a factor in 30 percent (12,477) of all traffic fatalities in 1998, second only to alcohol (39 percent) as a cause of fatal crashes.
• (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, 1999)
• In 1998, 40,000 people were critically injured in speeding-related crashes, 72,000 were moderately injured and 599,000 received minor injuries. (NHTSA, 1999)
• The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated at $27.7 billion per year. (NHTSA, 1999)
• Crash forces on impact double with every 10 mile per hour increase in speed above 50 miles per hour. As crash forces increase, so does one�s chances of being killed or seriously injured in a crash. (NHTSA, 1995)
• Young drivers (under 30 years old) are more likely to speed than other drivers. Of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, young males are most likely to speed. The relative proportion of speeding-related fatal crashes decreases with increasing driver age. (NHTSA, 1999)
• Alcohol involvement and speeding often go hand-in-hand. In 1998, 43 percent of drivers with a 0.10 BAC or higher who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared with 14 percent of the sober (0.00 BAC) drivers in fatal crashes. (NHTSA, 1999)

SPEED LIMIT LAW FACTS

• Travel speeds increased on Interstate highways in the states that raised their speed limits after Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Limit in 1995. Increased travel speeds historically have led to increased traffic fatalities. (IIHS, 1999)
• In the 24 states that raised their speed limits in late 1995 and in 1996, fatalities on Interstate highways increased 15 percent. Deaths on other roadways where speed limits were not raised were unchanged. (IIHS, 1998)
• The increased fatalities and fatality rates on Interstates where speed limits were raised translates to approximately 450-500 additional deaths a year on Interstate highways and freeways. (IIHS, 1998)
• As of October 1999, 28 states have raised speed limits to 70 MPH or higher on portions of their roads and highways. (IIHS, 1999)
• In a public opinion poll conducted by Louis Harris for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety in May 1996, 64 percent of those polled said they were concerned that higher speed limits would contribute to even more aggressive driving. Sixty-six percent were concerned that highway crashes would rise again, and 52 percent were concerned that they will feel unsafe on the highways because drivers would go "much faster," exceeding even the posted limits.
  
  

 

Comments

John Vance  - Re Speed statistics. |2008-04-14 11:08:25 These numbers should be thoroughly investigated. One third of all accidents are caused by speed. The true figures appear to be 5 per cent.If the nut behind the wheel is stupid enough to go racing, surely it is stupidity rather than speed? And if statistics are written by a road side traffic policemen who isnt versed in accident investigations, and he mentions speed only without proper investigation, then it may be a statistic which is inaccurate when its entered into the books. It could be the road is only suitable for a certain speed, and its road conditions. Statistics at the moment favor speed cameras, as they have entered the statistics and are loving it. 0   0

Nick O'Hara  - Re: Speed Statistics |2008-08-01 17:41:31 To say that speed is a contributing factor in 5 percent of all crashes is ignorant. When investigating a fatal accident, police have an accident reconstruction team. They run the numbers and actually replay the accident after they're done, and yes, most times speed is a factor, because a fatality would not occur at 10 miles per hour when hitting a parked car now would it? and there's no way any cop could say "well...this man was known to have been a complete idiot." 0   1

David  - Re:Speed Statistics |2008-08-21 16:14:56 There is a difference between speed being a "contributing factor" and speed being "the main cause". The five percent sounds like the statistic where speed is the main cause, while the one-third sounds more where speed is a contributing factor. Anyway, I have a hard time believing speed statistics from government sources. For example, when the National Maximum Speed Limit was established (which, by the way, was a violation of the 10th amendment), advocates crowed when there were less traffic fatalities the following year. However, when deeper investigation was done, it turned out that the energy crisis of that time caused less miles to be driven and it turns out that Americans driving less miles, NOT the reduced speed, was the major factor in the reduction of traffic fatalities. 1   0

Nick Z |2008-09-22 21:27:43 I cannot believe that a person is so naive as to think that speed is not involved in 30% of all fatal accidents. Drive on a California freeway at 65 mph and you will be all but runover by the idiot in the car passing you at 90 mph. Very few of these people are able to handle an emergency situation at that speed. Recently, a 19 year old boy was killed speeding on a city street, his motto on his website was "Floor It" Its about time we crack down on serial speeders like we crack down on drivers under the influence of alcohol 1   1

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