Speeding Kills, But Many States Slow to Respond

By Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. on March 14, 2012

Speeding is a major factor in one out of every three serious auto accidents, according to a recent news article in USA Today. Unfortunately, many U.S. states have not responded to the risks posed by speeding in a sufficiently aggressive manner to reduce the number of injuries or auto accidents caused each year.

In 2005, states joined forces to address the rising number of speed-related deaths on U.S. roads. While different states offered different ideas for solving the problem, few have actually taken action since that time. Seven states lowered speed limits on at least some of their roads, and two more states increased the price of fines for speeding.

However, speeding – defined either as driving faster than the posted speed limit and/or driving too fast for conditions – killed over 10,000 U.S. drivers, passengers, and pedestrians in 2010 alone.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) provides support for states that want to lower their annual number of speeding-related deaths. According to the GHSA, 35 states have recently sought grants and other funding to increase patrols and buy new equipment to crack down on speeding. Only fourteen states currently allow automatic speed-monitoring cameras; the others must rely on old-fashioned police patrol work, often augmented by 21st-century speed-monitoring technology.

At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., our dedicated and passionate Washington speeding accident attorneys strive for outstanding results in each case we handle, so that our clients and their families can focus on healing and moving forward after a speeding-related accident. To discuss your situation with us, call our office today at (888) 228-3860 for a free, confidential consultation.