Speeding drivers put everyone at risk

If you have spent any amount of time on the road in Texas, speeding probably seems pretty common. However, just because something is common does not mean that it is safe. Speed is a significant factor in many serious and fatal accidents. Unfortunately, it does not matter that you are a safe driver who sticks to the speed limit when there are speeding drivers all around you.

In 2018, speed factored into 13% of all crashes that involved either injuries or fatalities. Around 9,000 people died because of speeding that year, which is 26% of all car accident deaths. Despite these figures, speed limits are still on the rise.

Higher speed limits are common

Texas has the highest maximum speed limit out of all the states. Many interstates have speed limits as high as 80 mph, and one stretch of interstate allows drivers to travel as fast as 85 mph. One of the reasons Texas has such high speed limits is likely because the state already had a lot of speeding drivers.

When officials raise speed limits, it is usually because they are trying to match the limit with the speed at which 85% of drivers travel in a certain area. Advocates of this process claim that it will get all drivers traveling at the same speed, but research has shown that this thinking is flawed. Once the speed limit is raised drivers simply go on to exceed the new limits.

Speed makes injuries worse

When trying to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, drivers usually are not thinking about how their speed could make an accident even worse. The reality is that car accidents get more and more severe as speed increases. This comes down to three different factors.

First, speeding drivers have less time to react when they notice a problem. Second, the faster drivers travel, the longer they need to brake. And third, it increases the chances that drivers will lose control when making evasive driving maneuvers.

Where are speeding drivers?

Unfortunately, you can find speeding drivers everywhere. In fact, a 2018 study found that around 50% of drivers admitted that they had sped at least 15 mph over the speed limit in the month prior. Another 40% said they had driven 10 mph over the limit in residential areas during that same period of time.

Few speeding drivers ever really consider how their actions will affect other people. And sadly, surviving a speed-related accident can be a physically, emotionally and financially traumatic experience. For help getting the compensation you need for your recovery, reach out to an experienced attorney.