Slow Down, Arrive Alive
According to the NHTSA, speeding killed 10,111 people in 2016 and accounts for more than a quarter (27%) of all traffic fatalities that year. Safety belts were not used in 50% of those accidents where speed was a factor.
Speed limits are determined by the time it takes a typical vehicle to stop. According to the United States Department of Transportation, the faster a car is traveling, the longer it will take to stop after the brakes are applied. If conditions are bad (darkness, rain or snow, fog) drivers should adjust speed accordingly, but many don’t.
The National Safety Council estimates that in 2017 there were more than 40,000 deaths from car accidents, and speeding was one of three key factors. Distracted driving and failure to use seat belts were the other two major causes.