Speeding is the main contributor to car crashes in both freeway and rural settings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that in 2019, speeding played a part in more than 25% of fatal crashes recorded.
Speeding can also affect the seriousness of injuries to drivers and passengers alike, and depending on the rate of speed at the moment of impact, the nature of those injuries can vary widely.
Death is more likely
When drivers exceed the speed limit, they put not only themselves at risk but other drivers and passengers as well. With each MPH exceeded, the risk of death during a crash increases for each occupant in any vehicle involved.
The risk of serious injuries increases
While most speeding accidents tend to happen in urban areas where the opportunity to speed is more prevalent, serious injuries are more likely to occur in any setting when drivers exceed the speed limit. For example, head and spinal trauma may happen more often during a crash because of the rate of travel, especially when drivers and passengers fail to use their seatbelts.
Speeding and bad weather combined
When drivers speed in bad weather, the risk of serious bodily harm can occur because of poor roadway conditions. Rain and ice in particular tend to make crashes worse when drivers speed because cars can hydroplane or slide, causing the vehicle’s tires to lose their grip on the pavement. As a result, the driver loses control of the car and may slam into a stationary object, such as a tree.
Young men are the most affected by speed when crashes occur. Nevertheless, anyone may suffer serious trauma when these wrecks happen.