The hard and fast truth about speeding
There’s a reason why they call it “break-neck” speed. Each year, thousands of people die because of traveling too fast on the nation’s roads.
Maybe they were late for an appointment. Maybe they were singing to the radio. Maybe they were showing off for a friend in the car.
But none of that mattered in the end. Collisions cost them their lives.
Collision Guard knows that speeding isn’t the sexiest safe-driving topic. But it also knows that about a third of all fatal car crashes are caused by it. So the message today is simple: Take it easy. A slightly slower pace could save your life and others.
The unintended consequences
The death toll is staggering. But so is the amount of damage caused by speed-related collisions every year. Here’s the hard truth – drivers education 101 – about why it makes sense to stick to the speed limit and drive safely.
- About one-third of all fatal crashes in 2008 had to do with speeding, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration analysis. The death toll: 11,674 people.
- Younger drivers are the most likely to speed. The fastest drivers are 24 years old and younger.
- Each year, speed-related crashes cost motorists $40.4 billion in vehicle damage.
- Most speed-related fatalities do NOT happen on interstate highways. About 88 percent of those deaths in 2008 happened on state and local roads.
Source: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
A ticket to nowhere
Did you know that more than 100,000 Americans receive a speeding ticket every day, costing them an average of $150? Ouch. So before you pound that accelerator and throw safe driving to the wind, take a look at these fascinating facts about the price people are paying for speed.
- Speeding tickets cost motorists more than $6.1 billion every year.
- The average uptick in insurance rates for a single speeding ticket is $900 over three years.
- The average policeman will cost a city about $75,000 a year in salary and benefits, but bring in $200,000 annually in traffic fines.
- The most notorious ticket-writing state is Ohio, followed by Pennsylvania, New York, California and Texas.
- One out of every six drivers will get a speeding ticket this year.
- The most citations go to young drivers between 17 and 24 years old.
Source: Traffic Ticket Secrets
Tips/Awareness
So how can you keep your speed under control? Here are a few driving tips to avoid a potentially break-neck commute:
- Keep your mind on the road: Don’t fade away into dreamland or get caught up singing to the radio. The more your mind wanders into the realm of distracted driving, the more likely you are to speed.
- Go with the flow: A good way to control your speed is to travel at the speed of traffic. Generally, traffic flows a few miles per hour above the speed limit. But it rarely reaches speeds worthy of a traffic ticket.
- Relax: If you are in a hurry, take a deep breath and try to calm down. Although speeding may cut a few minutes off your commute, it also could add a traffic stop or a ride to the hospital.
- Think about the consequences: A little perspective might help your speed. Just think about this: 11,674 people never made it home in 2008 because of speeding. Safe driving makes sense.