These days, it’s common for people to be in a rush behind the wheel. We all have busy lives, so it’s easy to get a little caught up from time to time.
However, no matter how late you are, it’s important to avoid exceeding the posted speed limits. It’s more important that you actually make it to your destination than it is for you to try to be there on time. After all, speeding rarely shaves more than a minute or two off of most commutes anyway.
Read on to learn seven reasons why speeding is so dangerous and should always be avoided.
#1 - Speeding is one of the leading causes of car accidents, alongside drunk and distracted driving.
In fact, speeding has been a factor in about one-third of all car accident fatalities for more than 20 years. In 2019, speeding helped cause 26% of all traffic accidents resulting in deaths.
#2 - Serious injuries are more likely in the event of a crash.
Getting into a car accident while speeding significantly increases your risk of being seriously injured or killed.
#3 - Speeding increases your risk of losing control of your vehicle.
When you drive too fast, your car’s handling is reduced significantly. If you cannot effectively handle your vehicle, your risk of getting into an accident goes way up.
#4 - If an unexpected danger appears, you may not have enough time to react.
If you are speeding on a residential street and, for example, a child runs out into the road to retrieve a rogue handball, you may not be able to stop quick enough to avoid a collision.
#5 - Speeding is more than just exceeding the posted speed limits.
While exceeding the posted speed limit is one way to speed, if you are within the speed limit but are driving too fast for the current road conditions, you may also be speeding. Some instances that may require you to reduce your speed include when you drive in:
- Inclement weather conditions
- Road construction
- Poorly lit areas
In 2019, speeding was an element in deadly crashes for:
- 16% of drivers on dry roads
- 19% on wet roads
- 39% on roads with snow or slush
- 40% on roads with moving or standing water
- 41% on roads with mud, dirt, or gravel
- 43% on roads with ice or frost
#6 - Alcohol impairment and speeding are often connected.
For those under age 21, about 25% of speeding drivers were alcohol-impaired when they were involved in deadly crashes. That rate decreases to 32% among 55- to 64-year-old drivers and continues decreasing as the driver age increases.
#7 - Aggressive driving and speeding often go hand in hand.
You are driving aggressively when you commit multiple moving traffic violations that put other people or property in danger. Speeding is typically one of the traffic violations you’ll commit when you drive aggressively.
Keep in mind that aggressive driving and speeding can be considered reckless driving in the eyes of Washington State law. According to the Washington State Legislature RCW 64.61.500, “Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. Violation of the provisions of this section is a gross misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to three hundred sixty-four days and by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars.”
If You’ve Been Hurt, We’re Here to Help
Getting into a car accident as a result of another’s negligence is never an easy experience to endure. When it happens, it is often frustrating and painful.
If you’ve been hurt in a crash due to another’s recklessness, you may be owed compensation for your losses. Our team is highly skilled in recovering damages for car accident victims, and we have helped many others in similar situations. Let us see if we can help you too.
Give our Kent personal injury attorney at Dore Law Group, PLLC a call today at (253) 236-3888 to discuss your case.