The Consequences of Speeding While Driving

 Posted on October 16, 2018 in Car Accidents

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 1,090 traffic fatalities in 2017 in Illinois. Traffic fatalities may occur for multiple different reasons, but one of the most common reasons is traveling over the speed limit. Speeding decreases the time drivers have to react to events around them, and the faster a vehicle is going the harder it is to stop. Drivers who speed are more likely to be involved in a traffic accident which may cause fatal injuries.

Why Do So Many Drivers Speed When Driving?

Each person may have a different reason for driving above the speed limit. Some of the most common reasons are listed below.

• Traffic: When drivers are in a traffic jam, it causes them to lose time. Once the traffic jam clears, they will often speed in order to make up for the time they lost when going slowly. They may also speed in order to combat other drivers going too slowly for them.
• Anonymity: Drivers on the road often view themselves as anonymous because they are usually surrounded by strangers on the road. If a driver views themselves as anonymous, it can make their behavior less restricted than if they feel they have a connection to the people around them.
• Time: One of the more obvious reasons to speed is if a driver is running late to an appointment, to work, or for any other reason. Making sure to arrive on time is important to many people and being late does not make a good impression, so drivers may speed to their destination and drive more aggressively than they would otherwise.

Speeding Dangers

Drivers who travel over the designated speed limit face a variety of consequences. Speeding makes the road and other drivers and passengers around you unsafe in addition to being against the law.

Some of the consequences of speeding are:

• Fuel consumption increases and reduces overall miles per gallon.
• Decrease in time for a driver to notice a safety hazard and react to it.
• Protection equipment such as airbags and car safety measures are less effective.
• Speeding leads to an increase in the degree of crash severity, possibly resulting in more fatalities or injuries.
• More damage is caused to the vehicles involved at higher speeds, increasing likelihood vehicle will not be drivable after a crash.

Contact a Knowledgeable DuPage County Traffic Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a speeding-related traffic accident, you need an experienced Bloomingdale automobile accident lawyer to help you pursue compensation for the incident. The lawyers at The Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C. will assist you in seeking the damages you deserve. Call our office today at 630-665-5678 to set up a consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding

http://apps.dot.illinois.gov/FatalCrash/Home/CrashData/2017