Speeding Is a Factor in 30% of Fatal Crashes in the U.S., NHTSA Reveals

Every single minute that passes, another car accident occurs in the U.S., according to federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While a variety of factors can contribute to these crashes, the NHTSA has also noted that human behaviors and mistakes contribute to about 94 percent of all traffic crashes in the U.S.

And – of all of the human errors and actions that play a role in causing auto wrecks – speeding is one of the most prominent. That’s because speeding is a factor in nearly 1 in every 3 deadly traffic accidents in the U.S., according to NHTSA. And what may be just as tragic as this are the following facts about the impacts of speeding.

More Important Facts about the Impacts & Dangers of Speeding

• The dangers & impacts of speeding

  Speeding-related collisions kill at least 10,000 people each year in the U.S. – And, over the past few years, these collisions have been on the rise, jumping up about 2 percent since 2011.

• Speeding-related crashes cost the U.S. economy more than $40 billion each year – This includes the costs of medical treatments (for the injured), vehicle repairs, roadway fixes and lost productivity (when injured people cannot return to work for the short- or long-term).
• Drunk drivers are far more likely to be speeding – When compared to sober motorists, impaired drivers (i.e., those with BACs of at least 0.08) are nearly three times more like to be speeding. In light of the fact that drunk drivers have impaired perception, judgment, coordination and reaction times (as we explained here), the combination of drunk driving and speeding is often deadly.
• Young male motorists are those who are most likely to be speeding – This demographic is also among those who are more likely to drive aggressively, to drive impaired and to multitask when driving. When speeding is combined with even one other negligent driving behavior (like drunk or distracted driving), the risk of a serious, potentially deadly crash increases substantially.
• Speeding-related crashes are 100% preventable – This may be the single most important fact for motorists to remember, as the choices they make behind the wheel – including the choices regarding obeying speed limits and traffic laws – can be lifesaving or life-threatening.

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Contact Lakewood Auto Accident Attorney James L. Finegan

Have you been injured in a traffic accident caused by a negligent motorist? If so, Lakewood Auto Accident Attorney James L. Finegan is here for you, ready to help you advocate your rights to justice and compensation.

To schedule a free, no obligations case evaluation with Attorney James L. Finegan, call (303) 980-5511 or toll free at (888) 980-5511. You can also send an email via the contact form on this page.

From offices based in Lakewood, CO, James L. Finegan, P.C. provides superior representation to clients throughout Jefferson County and the state of Colorado, including those in Denver County, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Adams County and the Colorado Front Range region.