How Much of a Factor Is Speeding in Car Accidents?

The road can be an unpredictable place to be. One moment, you are cruising at 100 mph, and the next, you are in the ER. Speeding is one of the most significant and blatant risks associated with driving. 

Back in 2023, a study showed that speeding contributed to the deaths of 11,775 people, and contributed to 29% of total car accident fatalities. Just think hard about these numbers, and you will realize the danger of speeding. 

In this article, we will examine speeding from an objective perspective to understand the internal causes that trigger speeding behavior. 

Why Is Speeding A Problem In Traffic?

You do not need an expert car accident lawyer to tell you that speeding is a problematic phenomenon. Speeding can not only kill people, but also cause massive and irreparable property damage. 

Apart from that, speeding is also seen as a public nuisance. It disrupts the natural order of things and causes damage to life and property. Here is why speeding is considered a significant issue in the broader context. 

Public Safety

Given the rapid rise in speeding cases, communities have begun taking matters into their own hands. Many communities are urging automobile companies to implement safety measures, or fail-safe measures that can help drivers to take control of their vehicle when things go wrong.

Speeding is a major public safety concern because it affects the speedster. Speeding collisions also take the lives of other people on the road. Therefore, speeding is not merely a local problem, but a social issue. 

Social Domino Effect

It would be wrong to overlook the fact that speeding has a profound social impact. Human beings have always been fascinated with speed. However, this has become a problem since the automobile boom happened.

With that boom, the popularity of motorsport also came. Therefore, the phenomenon of speeding caused a social domino effect. On one hand, you have teenagers growing up on high-octane sports, and on the other hand, you have easy access to vehicles.

This has created a deadly concoction of death and mayhem. Although it is incorrect to assume that motorsport is the sole reason, it would be equally incorrect to think that it played no part.

What Is The Government Doing?

As speeding has become a challenging problem to address, governments worldwide are taking action. Each government has taken its approach. However, these measures have three stages in common. Here are some of the most important steps that the government has taken in tandem with social groups to address speeding. 

Public Awareness & Education

One of the first steps taken by the government is to create and organize a public education and awareness campaign regarding speeding. The state’s traffic authorities primarily organize these campaigns.

In most cases, these campaigns employ initiatives such as social media, billboards, and events to address the problem of speeding as a whole. This is primarily done as a means of educating people about the risks associated with speeding. 

Law Enforcement 

The second deterrent employed by the government is law enforcement. Almost all states worldwide have strict rules regarding speeding. These rules work on a punishment principle. This means that people are often facing charges for such reckless behavior.

To make the process more effective, enforcement agencies have actively started employing technological advancements to penalize reckless drivers. Components like speed cameras and radars are designed to catch speedsters. 

Another method that is proven ti be helpful is regular patrolling of the streets. This ensures the best result as speedsters get to feel the physical presence of the law, which a small camera might not provide.

Engineering Solutions

Apart from the two points we have discussed, the government has also implemented another countermeasure to combat speeding. This countermeasure is deeply related to the manufacturing process only.

The Government has introduced several mandatory requirements that automobile manufacturers must comply with at all times. These measures generally include a restriction on tuning, where an owner cannot externally modify their vehicle to increase its speed.

Moreover, AI could also play a significant role in the future of automobile safety. Popular companies have already begun experimenting with AI as a core component of their braking systems, where AI would take over in the event of a crash.

Factors That Contribute to Speed

Speeding is a deeply human factor. There is empirical evidences that shed light on the psychological side of speeding. Here are some of the key psychological factors that contribute to speeding.

Behavioral Aggression

Aggressive driving behavior is most commonly observed in individuals aged 20 to 40 years. Most people in this category exhibit signs of aggressive driving. A sense of competition, emotional imbalance, or time dearth could fuel the aggression. 

On the other hand, some people enjoy the thrill of going fast. These individuals are not competing with anyone. They are simply finding peace in high speeds. Then again, losing control of the car would produce just the same results. 

Other Psychological Underpinning

The other psychological side of speeding is a complex web. Depression and burnout are two of the biggest problems that the modern working force faces daily. Therefore, the feeling of invulnerability of speed is something they swear by.

On the other hand, other reasons can contribute just as much. One is the emotional stress or imbalance. Some people drive fast in reaction to whatever is happening in their lives., Therefore, the complex psychology behind speeding is not a linear thing in any way. 

Can Speeding Land You Behind Bars? 

Speeding is a felony. Therefore, if you are arrested while speeding, there is a high chance that you will face jail time. However, this is where a car accident lawyer steps in. A car accident lawyer can help you handle the complex legalities of a speeding case.

However, if you somehow kill or injure someone while speeding, the case can become more complicated.  Therefore, if you are speeding, please consider having a legal aid on call. Otherwise, get ready to face the law.