Speeding Kills
After speeding through a red light, a 24-year-old man smashed his vehicle into a light pole, then a tree, and finally, a fire hydrant. Rescue workers arrived to find the man had died. Not many months before this tragic accident, a speeding vehicle crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer, killing the driver. The theme of these accidents is clear: speeding kills.
Speeding Dangers
Speeding is dangerous for the speeder, of course, but also for everyone else on the road, as well. In 2022 there were over 12,000 fatalities related to driving above the posted speed limits. Moreover, speeding was listed as a factor in roughly one-third of all traffic deaths in the past two decades. Obviously, speeding can be an issue even when drivers stick to posted limits if the road or weather conditions don’t warrant it. And it happens in conjunction with other dangerous driving behaviors and unintended consequences. Those consequences include a greater chance of the following:
- A loss of control over the vehicle;
- A need for more distance to complete a stop;
- More extensive damage to property;
- More severe injuries—and even death– to individuals.
Why is Speeding so Common?
Speeding is really just another form of aggressive driving. It’s something people from every walk of life engage in, buy why? The justifications are as varied as the people who speed:
- People get frustrated in traffic congestion when they can’t get where they want to go. They wind up zipping through traffic at increased speeds.
- With so many responsibilities these days, people tend to be running late all the time. They view speeding as a way to cut a few seconds off of a busy day.
- Drivers often feel detached from the world, hidden behind their windshield, mostly unseen. It makes a little lawlessness easy, and they anonymously push a little harder on the gas pedal.
- Sometimes those who drive aggressively simply don’t consider the harm they may impose on others. They are gleefully unfettered by thoughts of responsibility toward others.
Encountering Aggressive Speeders
We all come across drivers who speed. What should we do? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has this advice:
- Allow speeders to pass if they’re tailgating, even if you’re in the far left lane.
- Give speeders as much room as possible. If they lose control, you don’t want to be anywhere near them.
- In the event things get really dangerous or you think there is an impending risk, call 911 and let the highway patrol handle it.
If You’re Harmed by a Speeding Vehicle
We know that speeding can frequently result in accidents that impact innocents. If you or a loved one is seriously injured or killed due to the actions of a reckless driver who sped, you may be entitled to damages to address medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, and more. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation with the empathetic, yet aggressive Baltimore personal injury attorneys at The Law Office of Hasson D. Barnes in our office today.
Source:
wmar2news.com/local/speeding-driver-hits-a-light-pole-then-a-tree-followed-by-a-fire-hydrant
