Speeding is a Major Factor in Car Crashes

Speed plays an instrumental role in far too many traffic fatalities and not only has an adverse effect on a driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle but also diminishes the effectiveness of safety structures on the road.

The factor that plays the most instrumental role in determining exactly how dangerous car accidents will be is speed. When drivers take it upon themselves to exceed the speed limit dangerously, they make our roadways that much more deadly for all of us. If a speeding motorist leaves you or someone you love injured in a car crash, an experienced Las Vegas car accident lawyer can help.

The Effects of Speeding

The National Safety Council’s injury facts share the dangerous roles that excess speed plays in car crashes:

• Excess speed decreases a driver’s reaction time, which means he or she has less time available to avoid a crash if a dangerous situation arises.
• Excess speed increases the distance on the road a driver requires to come to a complete stop.
• Excess speed reduces the effectiveness of safety structures on the road, such as crash cushions, guardrails, median dividers, and concrete barriers.

Speeding renders the driver, the vehicle, and the road all more dangerous.

Speeding: The Statistics

The National Safety Council (NSC) also reports the staggering statistics related to excess speed, which include:

• In 2018, speeding played a role in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities.
• 9,378 people died as a result of excess speed on our roadways in 2018.
• There were 8,447 fatal traffic crashes in 2018 that were officially speed-related.

Speed plays an outsized role in traffic fatalities.

Speed Isn’t All about the Speed Limit

Speed limits are set to help keep our roads safer for all who travel on them, but these speed limits pertain only to ideal conditions. A motorist can be speeding dangerously even if his or her speedometer registers a speed that is lower than the set limit. As the road’s condition deteriorates, speed plays an even more significant role, and NSC shares the following corresponding percentages for speed-related fatalities on roadways under different conditions:

• 16 percent of fatalities on dry roads involved speed.
• 19 percent of fatalities on wet roads involved speed.
• 37 percent of fatalities on roads with slush or snow involved speed.
• 41 percent of fatalities on roads with ice or frost involved speed.
• 37 percent of fatalities on roads with standing or moving water involved speed.
• 45 percent of fatalities on roads with dirt, gravel, or mud involved speed.

Motorists are responsible for safely adjusting their speed in relation to the condition of the road ahead.

Don’t Wait to Consult with an Experienced Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer

The formidable car accident lawyers at Breeden Malpractice & Injury Law in Las Vegas have an impressive track record of helping clients like you obtain the compensation to which they are entitled. To schedule your free consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (702) 819-7770 today.