Speed-related crashes accounted for $23 billion in repairs, medical bills, and insurance claims.
Speeding is Dangerous
One major problem with speeding is that drivers all to often view it as a necessity and not an immediate risk to their personal safety. The truth is that speed intensifies any other driving mistake that someone might make. For instance, if a driver is distracted by something in the back seat of their car and their attention is divided between that and their driving, speeding will only increase the chances of a serious Southern California car accident.
On average, roughly 1,000 Americans die on the road each month in speed-related crashes. Where and when are these crashes happening?
- 60 percent of speed-related crashes occur on rural roads
- 66 percent of all speed-related crashes only involve one vehicle
- 60 percent of fatal speed-related accidents happen between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am
- Drivers who are in speed-related accidents are more likely to have had a history of traffic violations
Here are some eye-opening facts about speeding that may make drivers think twice before pressing hard on that accelerator pedal:
- The energy released in a collision more than doubles when speed increases from 40 mph to 60 mph.
- When speed limits were raised in 1996, the number of traffic-related fatalities went up about 15 percent.
- Speeding accidents decrease with increasing driver age.
- In states where rural speed limits were raised, over 400 lives are lost each year due to these accidents.
Become a Safer Driver by Slowing Down
There are multiple things that you can do to help reduce speeding and create a safer roadway for all. The first step is to make an honest decision to monitor you speed while driving in an active manner. It is all to easy just to flip on “auto-pilot” when driving familiar routes, but this should be avoided.
If you are being tailgated, instead of speeding up, just change lanes. You do not need to bend to peer pressure when driving and you need to realize that you are that final decision maker for how fast you drive.
Also, understand that by driving a more reasonable speed, you will save money at the gas pump. On average, most passenger cars burn 50 percent more fuel at 75 mph than they do at 50 mph.
Possible Compensation for California Speed-Related Accidents
If you have been hurt in a car accident caused by excessive speed of the other driver, you may be able to pursue compensation for your injuries. To find out if you have a case against the other driver or if you need assistance with obtaining a fair settlement from the insurance company, contact an experienced Santa Monica car accident attorney at Steinberg Injury Lawyers.
We represent clients in Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County and throughout California. Contact us today by calling (800) 989-6385.
