The Dangers Of Speeding: By The Numbers

At Coastline Academy, our mission is to eradicate car crashes. One way to help in that mission is to get drivers to slow down. By speeding, you are putting everyone in danger on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in 2019, speeding killed 9,478 people. Below we go over some of those numbers and take a look at why speeding doesn't mean safer.

Dangers Of Speeding

Life can get hectic and sometimes we leave for work or school later than expected. To make up the time, some people will drive faster than normal. However, speed limits are put in place to protect all road users. When you speed, you are not only endangering your own life, but all of the people on the road around you.

The NHTSA states speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities for more than two decades! In 2019, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic deaths.

Speeding is not only an issue when you are driving above the posted speed limit for that area. It can also affect your safety when you are driving at the speed limit, but it is too fast for current road conditions, like during bad weather or the road is under construction.

Other Speeding Stats

Some more stats the NHTSA shared in regards to the dangers of speeding:

• In 2019, 47% of speeding drivers in fatal crashes were not wearing seat belts.
• In 2019, 31% of male drivers aged 15–20 years and 17% of female drivers aged 15–20 years who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding.

What Drives Speeding?

When it comes down to it, speeding is a type of aggressive driving behavior. The NHTSA states there are several factors that seem to contribute to the rise in aggressive drivers:

• Running Late: This would be a big reason, as people leave late for an appointment, work or school and then try to make up the time by speeding.
• Traffic: When there is a backup in traffic, people often try to maneuver through it more quickly or will try to make up for the lost time in that traffic jam by speeding when it clears up some.
• Anonymity: In a car, you are unknown to the world. Some drivers feel less constrained when others cannot see them or others will witness their behavior knowing they'll never see them again, so speeding is fine to them.
• Disregard for Others and the Law: For some drivers, it comes down to them just not caring about others or the law. No regard for the safety of others and only thinking about themselves and their needs.

What Can You Do To Help?

The most obvious thing would be to not speed. Also, the NHTSA provides guides and toolkits to help spread the message about safe driving, including tips on what you can do if you encounter an aggressive driver on the road.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.