Report examines speed-related crashes

Mar 23, 2009

About 55 percent of speeding-related crashes are caused by "exceeding posted speed limits," compared with 45 percent that were from "driving too fast for conditions," according to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Researchers looked at data from six states whose police accident reports documented both factors in speed-related crashes. Findings released in February also show:

• Speed-related crashes due to "driving too fast for conditions" were more likely to have occurred on roads with higher speed limits (50 mph or more).
• 74 percent of speed-related crashes that resulted in one or more injuries were caused by "driving too fast for conditions."

In related news, the Arlington, VA-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Feb. 14 Status Report reported 21 states are attempting in the current legislative session to regulate the use of cameras to detect speeders and red-light violators. Last year, seven states enacted laws related to automated enforcement, IIHS researchers said.

According to NHTSA data, in 2007, about 31 percent of all fatal crashes were speeding-related, resulting in 13,040 fatalities. The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year.