How Does Speeding Contribute to Car Accidents?

Speeding causes thousands of fatal car accidents every year, and for the people that survive, they may sustain life-long injuries. Accidents due to speeding occur all of the time, and just last week in Oceanside, a rollover accident sent two people to the hospital with major injuries. Police have said speeding may have been a factor in the accident.

It is common to see accidents on the news that could have been avoided with safe driving practices, and recent survey data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that 48 percent of drivers agree speeding is a major issue on U.S. roads. According to the survey data, one in five drivers admitted to trying to get to their destination as fast as possible.

Does Aggressive Driving Contribute to Speeding?

Data gathered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that speeding caused 30 percent of traffic accidents in 2012, or more specifically, 33,561 deaths. Speeding can also be caused by what the NHTSA calls “aggressive driving”, better known as road rage. In addition to speeding, aggressive driving may include unsafe lane changes, improper passing and tailgating.

Although more minor in scale than aggressive driving, street racing can also cause car accident fatalities and injuries. Last month in Chula Vista, a street race left one woman severely injured when her car wrapped around a tree in excess of 80 mph.

What Are Dangers Associated with Speeding?

One of the greatest dangers of speeding is that it gives drivers less time to react to avoid an accident or obstacle. For example, it is harder to avoid potential debris and other obstacles in the road, because speeders may not spot them or be able to avoid them in time.

Not all of the dangers associated with speeding result in physical injuries. Hitting someone because of careless driving may open up the possibility of civil or criminal charges.

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Did You Know? According to the Centers for Disease Control, at the time of their accident, 37 percent of teenagers aged 15 to 20 had been speeding.

You can learn more about the impact of aggressive driving on car accidents by visiting the Institute for Highway Safety webpage.

You can learn more about American opinions on speeding and unsafe driving by visiting the NHTSA webpage.