We’ve all heard the cautionary slogan “Speed kills.” It’s been around for many years. However, excessive speeding among American drivers seems to be an ever-increasing — and deadly – problem.
According to the National Highway and Traffic Administration (NHTSA), speeding is at least in part responsible for almost one-third of all fatal crashes in the U.S. Florida law enforcement officers caution that speeding seems to be getting worse in our state.
Police are seeing more drivers exceed 100 mph
The problem isn’t just more speeding drivers, but the speeds they’re reaching. Volusia County’s sheriff says his officers are seeing more drivers going at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. One motorcyclist there was determined to be going a whopping 145 mph. In Polk County, a driver was clocked at 130 mph.
When law enforcement officers chase people going at speeds like this, they can create an even greater public safety threat. The Volusia County sheriff, like many in law enforcement and public safety, traces the problem back to when people were largely “sheltering in place” a few years ago. There were few vehicles on the road, which, he says, created “an absolute disregard for traffic laws [and] traffic safety….”
Why speeding makes driving more dangerous – and too often fatal
There are multiple reasons that “speed kills.” Namely:
- The force of a collision increases with speed.
- The faster a vehicle is moving, the longer it takes to stop. Both reaction time and braking time increase with speed.
- The greater the speed is, the narrower the driver’s field of vision is.
The Florida Safety Council estimates that even an additional 10 mph can make the risk of a crash being fatal twice as likely.
Most responsible drivers don’t drive at excessive speeds and try to steer clear of others on the road who are speeding. This information shows why avoiding speeding and drivers who do can be life-saving choices. Even if vehicles around you are speeding, you can help protect yourself and your passengers by maintaining a safe speed. Just be sure to stay out of the left lane so that drivers can pass you if they choose to.
Of course, that won’t help if the person behind you is speeding or a speeding driver loses control and moves into your lane. If you’ve been injured by a speeding or otherwise reckless or negligent driver, remember that you have the right to hold them accountable for compensation to help cover medical bills and other expenses and damages. Learn more about your rights and how to maximize that compensation.