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Five Reasons For Not Speeding
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, speeding is one of the few aspects of highway safety where little progress has been made.
About 13,500 people are killed annually in the United States from speeding-related crashes and other incidents.
With this in mind, the association has made speeding a priority issue. It’s urging Congress to create a program in the new highway bill to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding.
The association also is asking for an incentive program to reward states that use automated enforcement (cameras) to nab speeders and enforce speed laws.
In the interim, the group is hopeful that the high cost of gas will get people to think twice before they lead-foot the accelerator.
If slowing down to save a life is not that important, maybe slowing down to save a few dollars is.
So here’s 5 reasons why drivers shouldn’t speed.
Save lives. You’re more likely to survive a crash if you slow down. Research shows that a 1 percent decrease in travel speed reduces injury crashes by about 2 percent, serious injury crashes by about 3 percent and fatal crashes by about 4 percent.
Save money. Fuel efficiency suffers the faster you drive. As a rule of thumb, the Department of Energy estimates that for each 5 mph you go above 60 mph it costs an additional 20 cents per gallon for gas.
Save the environment. A vehicle traveling 65 mph uses about 15 percent more fuel than driving at 55 mph. This comes from the Ford Motor Company. More fuel used, the more CO2 released into the atmosphere.
Save getting a ticket. Police and highway safety agencies are making a big push to crackdown on speeders. In Palm Beach County, the fine for going 85 mph on the new sections of I-95 is $231. Going 20 mph over the speed limit in a construction zone will cost $381.
Save your license. A speeding citation can lead to points on your license. Too many points and your license can be suspended. And your insurance premiums go up.
Comments
By Stephen
July 30, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Speeding doesn’t kill.
Only going to fast for conditions does.
If speeding killed, everyone who broke the old 55 would have died!
The fact is when you get a road where the average speed is above the speed limit, that means THE SPEED LIMIT NEEDS TO GO UP!
As for the Cameras. Why don’t they put it to a vote by the people.
I’m sure the pro camera people don’t want to. The cameras would lose!
Heck even a RLC poll done by MSN a few months ago had 60% against it I believe!
By Cone Zone
July 30, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
While we’re at the ballot box, let’s put paying taxes to a vote too!