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Deaths by Speeding on the Rise

A new report shows that a drop in enforcement, a rise in speed limits and public apathy are to blame.

By Claire_Martin Mar 8, 2012 11:46AM
Image via Wikimedia Commons.The good news is that alcohol-impaired fatalities and unbelted-driver deaths have dropped in the past decade in the United States. The bad: Speeding fatalities are on the rise, according to a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association. "Despite progress in nearly every other area of highway safety, speeding continues to be a factor in approximately one-third of traffic deaths every year," the GHSA said in a press release. 

In 2010, 10,530 people died in crashes that were linked to speeding, and since 2000, speeding-related deaths are up 7 percent. By contrast, during this time period, deaths related to the failure to use seatbelts plummeted by 23 percent, and alcohol-related deaths dropped by 3 percent. 

The blame goes in part to state laws that are lenient toward speeding, or that even turn a blind eye, according to the GHSA. The highway safety offices in each of the 50 states (and Guam) that contributed data to the report revealed that from 2005 to 2010, seven states increased speed limits to as high as 85 mph, while only two states raised fines for speeders and just one state -- Indiana -- passed an aggressive driver law. 

The states said that lack of federal funding for speed enforcement, plus public perception that speed enforcement is purely a revenue generator, are two major barriers to reducing speeding fatalities. Thirty-five states have seen decreases in the number of speed-enforcement personnel due to budget cuts and military deployments, a fact the GHSA identified as particularly problematic. 

"Not having enough officers available to conduct speed enforcement, when this form of aggressive driving is so prevalent, makes it difficult to convince offenders that speeding is unacceptable," said Troy E. Costales, GHSA chairman. 

Public indifference to speeding is another hurdle to reducing deaths. "The public’s perception of the speed and aggressive-driving problems are inconsistent at best and apathetic at worst," according to the report. "Few advocates exist for speed reduction; speeding is a behavior that many people engage in routinely." 

To stem the problem, the GHSA recommends that states target speeders in school and work zones, two areas that get public support. And since the public takes aggressive driving more seriously, it suggests educating drivers on the dangers of speeding via aggressive-driving forums. 

On a national level, the GHSA is urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to sponsor a national speed-enforcement campaign, encourage states to engage in automated enforcement strategies and organize a forum where speeding experts come together to develop a plan to curb speeding and aggressive driving. 

Highway safety officials would also be wise to follow in Washington state's footsteps. An experimental program in three counties there resulted in a 45 percent decrease in speed-related deaths. The program used public education and outreach along with data-driven enforcement. "[The] project is driven by sophisticated crash and crime data analysis that is supported by precise mapping capabilities," according to the GHSA report. After 15 months, 88 lives were saved in Washington -- this during a time when funding for traffic enforcement was on the decline. 

Perhaps the seven states that decided to increase speed limits -- thereby ignoring research that directly correlates higher speed limits and traffic deaths -- should take particular note. 
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Stephen Donaldson (srd275)
Mar 8, 2012 10:31PM
avatar

By the way, one should check who is a member on that GHSA.  ATS, NCSR (a ATS front group) and IIHS (IIHS was recently busted cooking the books on a RLC study last year by a USF report).

 

GHSA also last year "honored" a KNOWN camera company front group that sued to STOP a referendum BANNING RLC in one TX town!  thenewspaper.com/new​s/36/3605.asp

Stephen Donaldson (srd275)
Mar 8, 2012 10:26PM
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Hey, Why don't you look a bit closer and you will find the GHSA is BLOATING THE NUMBERS!

 

If you pull out Ohio stats they ACTUALLY BREAK OUT HOW MANY CRASHES WERE CAUSED BY EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT!  ABOUT 1% 

 

Ohio for 2008.  publicsafety.ohio.go​v/links/HSY7606-2008​ pdf   Table 2.08 on page 18 of the Adobe

 

Exceeded Speed Limit 10 Fatal 0.9 % of Fatal     

  

Ohio for 2009. publicsafety.ohio.go​v/links/2009CrashFac​ts pdf  Table 2.08 on page 17 of the Adobe

 

Exceeded Speed Limit 11 Fatal 1.2 % of Fatal

 

 

Ohio for 2010  is similar:  publicsafety.ohio.go​v/links/2010CrashFac​ts pdf  on page 17 of the Adobe.

 

Exceeded Speed Limit 12 Fatal 1.2 % of Fatal

 

GHSA SEEMS TO BE COOKING THE NUMBERS!  (and this is just 1 state!)

 

(also see 1/3 lie on Association of Briitish Drivers site).

WHY THE DECEPTION GHSA???

 

Fight the Fraud

 

motorists dot org

banthecams dot org

Real Rider
Mar 8, 2012 6:45PM
avatar

The report seems forced to me...  As if they were trying to prove something is true just by saying it, therefore it must be true.  I also question the "data" that would have been used to get to their conclusion.  I've seen enough police accident reports to know that "speeding" gets thrown in just because they can.

 

Aggressive driving on the other hand is a big problem.  Lack of driving education?  Lack of respect for others on the road?  How to fix it....  ???

 

 

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