Speeding drivers cause an estimate one-third of all accidents at a cost of $44,193 per minute, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has published a “Think Fast” campaigned aimed at reducing speed and speed-related accidents.
A significant number of the car accidents handled by the Chicago injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes can be attributed to speeding drivers or drivers who disobey other traffic laws and traffic-control devices.
With winter driving just around the corner, drivers should remember that speed isn’t always about speed limits — driving too fast for road conditions also causes a significant number of Chicago car accidents.
Fuel consumption also decreases dramatically as speed increases. It takes 50 percent more fuel to travel 75 mph than it does to travel at 55 mph.
The federal government estimates more than 1,000 people a month are killed in speed-related crashes.
Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely, negotiate curves in the road or road hazards, and it extends the distance required to stop in emergency situations.
Crash severity also increases with speed and the effectiveness of safety devices, like airbags and seatbelts, decreases as speed increases.
In fact, the federal government estimates the probability of death or serious debilitating doubles with every 10 mph over 50 mph that a vehicle is traveling at impact.
Speed facts:
-Rural roads account for over 60 percent of all speed-related accidents
-66 percent of speed-related crashes involved a single vehicle
-Drivers in speed-related crashes are more likly to have a history of traffic violations
-On average, 1,000 people a month are killed by speed-related crashes in the United States
-Of drivers 15-24 years old involved in fatal crashes, one-third were speeding
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident, the Chicago injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Abels & Annes offer free appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS.