It is only June and yet there have already been more than 12,000 speed related car accidents in Ohio this year.
Whether drivers speed because they need to get somewhere quickly, or because they believe they won’t be caught, speeding is one of the largest contributors to accidents nationwide. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that roughly a third of car accidents are related to speeding.
Speeding reduces one’s reaction time and increases the breaking distance needed to come to a complete stop – two factors that are likely to cause accidents. Furthermore, a high collision speed will result in worse injuries and damages than a low-speed collision. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that speeding was a factor in 27% of fatal accidents.
Low-level speeding is more dangerous than you may think
Excessive speeding isn’t the only dangerous speeding. Low-level speeding – driving 5 MPH over the limit – can prove to be harmful as well, and unfortunately most drivers engage in this type of speeding. Going 40 in a 35 may not seem to be dangerous, but there’s a reason why the speed limit was set where it is.
Even when you’re going 5 MPH faster, you don’t realize the significant increase in reaction time and braking distance the extra speed adds.
Take the scenario of a car travelling 35 MPH approaching a pedestrian on a crosswalk 150 feet away. The National Organization of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) found that, taking into account reaction time, the car would come to a complete stop safely before the crosswalk. However, increase the travelling speed to 40 MPH, and the outcome changes dramatically. Due to the extended reaction and braking times, the car would not be able to stop within 150 feet and would ram into anyone on the crosswalk.
A 5 MPH difference is all it takes to forever change someone’s life.
Use the 3-second rule to avoid speeding car accidents.
This rule can be used to maintain a safe distance between cars:
- Choose a landmark on the side of the road
- As soon as the car in front of you passes it, start counting
- Your car should not pass the landmark before you count to 3
- If you reach the landmark too soon, slow down and try again
The three-second rule works at any speed. However, be sure to choose a landmark close to the street to avoid having to take your eyes off the road.
It is never worth speeding!
Not only does it barely reduce the time it takes to get somewhere, but it also significantly increases risk of an accident. It is important to stress to everyone that going over the speed limit, whether by 30 MPH or 5 MPH, is dangerous and the potential harm far outweighs the potential benefits of speeding.
If you or a loved one was injured due to another driver’s speeding negligence, contact my office immediately for your free consultation.
As your Ohio car accident attorney, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities. You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373
