According to the NHTSA, speeding killed over 11,258 people in 2020. While there are many factors that could make a driver go over the speed limit, these scenarios are the ones that can lead to motor vehicle fatalities.
Nobody wants to put themselves or other drivers at risk, so it's vital for those people to understand what causes car accidents due to speeding and how to avoid them.
The following article by Tom Fowler Law will guide readers on how to avoid going over the speed limit and stay away from any other factors that could lead to fatal crashes.
What Is Speeding? What Damages Can It Cause?
Speeding is rather easy to understand. This term applies to people who drive their vehicle at a higher speed than the established legal parameters.
Not only is speeding illegal, but it can also lead to several road accidents if the person wasn't paying attention to the road, stop signs, and other factors.
There are some exceptions where people may not be necessarily driving above their speed limits, but in cases involving bad weather or going into roads without good lighting, people should still lower their speed if they want to avoid an auto accident.
It's vital to note that a car accident that is speeding can endanger the driver's life, but it can also affect other vehicles, their drivers, and other people who were nearby.
Speeding has become a common factor in car accidents for more than two decades, which is why it's important to seek help to avoid these in the first place. You may also want to learn about what you can do to avoid multiple car accidents.
What Are the Consequences of Speeding?
As mentioned before, speeding doesn't only incur breaking the law. There are many other problems that may arise from a car accident after aggressive drivers were speeding.
Some of the most common consequences include the following:
Difficulty to maintain control over the vehicle.
Reduced effectiveness in protection equipment.
Shorter reaction span and stopping distance if the speeder notices a danger.
Increased probability of experiencing a crash.
Financial burdens that come from speeding crashes.
Increased fuel consumption.
Why Would Someone Go Over the Speed Limits While Driving?
Now, why would someone speed on purpose? While some factors could be obvious, let's address some of the most common ones:
Traffic: The most critical factor in speeding is congested traffic. This scenario often leads people to engage in aggressive driving attitudes, including changing from their right to their left lane frequently, becoming angry with anyone nearby, and speeding.
Running Late to an Event: People who are running late to any important event will likely start driving faster and aggressively in an effort to reach their destination faster, which paves the road for car accidents.
Not Paying Attention to the Law or Your Surroundings: Distracted driving is common. While many people don't typically drive aggressively, there are many circumstances that could make them disregard the law.
Drunk Driving: Unfortunately, driving while drunk is also common, and it's one of the most common reasons why someone would speed. This type of driving can also lead to distracted driving, which isn't great for those looking to avoid accidents.
How to Avoid Speeding Accidents or Distracted Driving Incidents
There are dozens of tips people can follow to avoid accidents. The following section will cover the most important ones so that drivers can ensure a safer and more comfortable driving experience:
Driving Under the Speed Limit
This should be the most common tip to avoid accidents regardless of where the driver is. Over-speeding can help people reach their destination faster, and it can also provide the person with a rush of adrenaline.
Unfortunately, speeding is both risky and illegal. Driving under the established parameters will ensure that the driver has better control over their vehicle, which decreases the chances of experiencing car accidents.
Not Drinking and Driving
Drinking before driving will likely cause someone to over-speed. Unfortunately, drinking too much can also impair the person's reflexes, making them less likely to react in time in a dangerous situation.
Thankfully, governments are taking strict measures to prevent as many drinking and driving incidents as possible. However, as a rule of thumb, if a driver is going to consume alcohol, then they should designate someone else to drive or get a cab.
Avoiding as Many Distractions as Possible
Many drivers (particularly teen drivers) tend to get distracted a lot while they're behind the wheel. Moreover, these people don't wear their seat belts, which paves the road for harsh incidents.
The key, in this case, is to focus on the road ahead and nothing else. Those who have music playing in the background should turn it a bit down to ensure they get a complete sense of what's happening outside.
Not Speeding on Congested Roads
Congested roads are the most common places where speeding incidents happen. Some people get frustrated in these situations and start over-speeding to skip signals or overtake vehicles.
These practices can cause road accidents, including running over other cars or pedestrians. It's fairly easy to crash a car in these circumstances, as there's little to no space between each vehicle, so maneuvering the car is harder.
As a rule of thumb, drivers should have at least a one-car length between the car in front and their car.
Not Racing Other People
A nice tip to drive safely is to avoid racing. Although this can be an "exciting" activity, this may cause the driver to drive distracted and have a shorter reaction time.
It's vital to note that if the person doesn't drive cautiously, they can cause a severe accident that can hurt drivers and even pedestrians.
Complying with the Law
It should go without saying that all people behind the wheel must comply with several factors in the law to prevent accidents, such as paying attention to red lights, not using cell phones, paying attention to any blind spots, and more.
Even if the person doesn't cause any incidents after driving, things like running red lights can cause a severe penalty for the drivers, which will incur hefty expenses.
Being Careful When Driving Under Bad Weather
When driving in inclement weather, speeding will be the driver's worst enemy.
Even if the person is driving under the approved speed limits, it's also advisable to lower the speed even more, change lanes carefully, and stop in time before a red light to not hit the car in front.
Bad weather can be unpredictable, and if the person is driving too fast, they will have a shorter reaction time to any event, which will make the accident more likely to happen.
What Can People Do to Avoid Speeders or Other Drivers?
All of the tips to avoid accidents from speeding are above. However, what about people who drive normally and want to avoid getting into an accident due to a speeder's fault?
Having a speeder nearby can be frustrating, but drivers shouldn't let that rage cloud their judgment.
Here are some tips to consider to have more control over speeders:
If the driver is in the left lane, and the speeder wants to pass them, the best thing to do is to let them.
Drivers should keep their distance from speeders. In that case, if the speeder loses control of their vehicle, the other driver will have more time to react to what happened.
In most cases, the driver should stay out of the way of a speeder. Speeders are known for tailgating or encouraging them to drive recklessly too. Here, the best thing to do is to safely steer the vehicle out of the way.
Finally, any driver who feels like a speeder is following them should call the police.
If the driver is parking in a big parking lot, it's better to choose a spot that's away from heavy traffic. Some people have trouble getting their vehicle out of their spot, and if that spot is crowded, they're more likely to hit the other person's car and drive away.
What to Do If Someone Was Involved in a Car Accident
Now, what happens if, even after following all these rules, the accident still happens?
There are a few things both parties involved in the crash should start doing as soon as possible:
Ensuring everyone involved in the accident is in good health.
Gathering evidence of the accident (Photos, Videos, Testimonies, etc.)
Collecting the other person's information (Phone Number, Insurance Company Policy, etc.)
Calling the company to see if the insurance premium covers the damage caused by the reckless driver.
Calling Des Moines vehicle accident lawyers for further advice on what to do.
Bottom Line - Avoid Going Over the Speed Limit and Drunk Driving Practices
Some conditions can definitely encourage drivers to go over the speed limit with their vehicle, but it's vital to fight that urge and drive as safely as possible.
It's not only the driver's life that's at stake. Reckless drivers can also expose nearby pedestrians to danger, which can pave the ground for fatal accidents.
Anyone who needs legal assistance after a speeding accident should call the legal team at Tom Fowler Law in Des Moines, Iowa, as that team will have all the resources necessary that drivers need to gain the compensation they deserve.