Speeding is a factor in almost a third of fatal crashes in the U.S. The adage that “speed kills” is true. Not only are there too many people on the roads driving faster than the speed limit. Florida police say that they are increasingly catching people going over 100 miles per hour.
One Polk County driver was clocked at 130 mph when they were pulled over. A Volusa County motorcyclist was going 145 mph. On county sheriff says that some drivers have “an absolute disregard for traffic laws [and] traffic safety….”
While traffic collisions can result in serious and potentially fatal injuries, that’s more likely when one or multiple motorists are speeding. Further, the potential severity of injuries increases with speed.
What happens as speed increases?
According to the Florida Safety Council, even an extra 10 mph can double the risk of fatal injuries in a crash. That’s because the faster a vehicle is traveling:
- The greater the force of a collision is
- The narrower the driver’s field of vision is.
- The longer it takes to stop.
It’s also harder (and too often impossible) for drivers (let alone pedestrians and bicyclists) to move out of the way of a speeding driver. Too often, they don’t even see a vehicle speeding towards them before it collides with them.
If someone can survive a crash with a driver who’s far exceeding the speed limit, they could be facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills in addition to other expenses and financial losses and potentially a future that includes disability, pain and regular medical care. That’s one reason it’s crucial to get experienced legal guidance as soon as possible.