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Speeding causes almost as many deaths as drunk driving does

On Behalf of | Nov 17, 2020 | Uncategorized

Commuting in New Jersey, especially on the highways, can put you in fear for your safety. Some people are unbelievably aggressive on the roads, speeding around unsafely and passing people frequently.

Whether you always stay in the right-hand lane because you prefer to drive slowly or you simply move with the flow of traffic, which often exceeds the posted speed limit, you may still feel quite nervous about the behavior of drivers going so fast. Is speeding really risky for others on the road?

Statistically, speeding is almost as bad as drunk driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the difficult job of managing traffic rules and guiding policy to help keep as many people safe as possible on the American roadways. They also collect and gather significant amounts of traffic data from every state in order to make the best rules and guidelines.

Research consistently shows that speeding is among the top causes of crashes, including fatal collisions. In 2018, the most recent year with analyzed data available, the NHTSA found that there were 9,378 speed-related traffic fatalities across the country. Drunk driving, a behavior people are much more likely to recognize a dangerous, caused 10,511 in the same year.

That’s a difference of approximately 11%. While drunk driving may still be the more significant safety scourge, statistics make it clear that speeding is also very risky. People going too fast may not notice issues around them in time and may not be able to stop quickly enough even if they do. They are also at risk of losing control of their vehicle if they hit a slick section of road or have another issue, like a blown tire.

Your rights when someone’s speeding causes a crash

In New Jersey, you have the right to bring a personal injury claim against a driver who caused a crash that either injures you, killed one of your loved ones or caused substantial property damage.

Gathering evidence after the crash — ranging from witness statements and traffic camera videos to recreations of the crash circumstances — can help you show the court that speeding was the cause of the crash and that the other party is responsible for causing you serious harm.