Speeding continues to take a toll in Texas. Not only is speeding the leading cause of crashes, but the Texas Department of Transportation reported 756 residents were killed in speeding accidents in 2017.
The number puts a spotlight on Texas because the state has the highest speed limit in the nation – 85 miles per hour on State Highway 130 – and recently was cited as among states having high fatality rates. Other states mentioned in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety report included Montana, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming.
To no one’s surprise, the institute confirmed traffic fatalities rise along with speed limits. Researchers linked the deaths of 37,000 Americans over the past 25 years to increased speed limits.
Charles Farmer, IIHS vice president for research and statistical services, associated a 5 mph increase in the maximum speed limit with an 8 percent increase in fatalities. His research went beyond mathematics, taking into account such factors as the unemployment rate, the proportion of young drivers in the population and seat belt usage rates.
Why More Speed Means More Deaths
One argument in favor of higher speed limits is that they result in all motorists driving at closer to the same speeds relative to each other, making roads safer. In other words, the normally slower drivers are going the new limit of, for example, 80 mph, while few are exceeding 80 because the speed suits them.
Not true, according to the IIHS:
“Raising speed limits results in higher travel speeds and more vehicles exceeding the new limit. It also undercuts the claim that raising limits reduces speed differences among vehicles on the same road.”
In addition, consider the physics: Higher speed limits increase a vehicle’s stopping distance and crash energy, exponentially raising the chances of major injury or vehicle damage.
High-Speed Crash? Have Expert Legal Advice on Speed Dial.
If you’ve been the victim of a high-speed personal injury accident, you are likely suffering from major injuries. You may be unable to work for a lengthy rehabilitation period, or possibly are crippled for life, meaning you cannot provide for your family. The physical and financial pressures will take a mental and emotional strain, too. Aware of your desperation, an insurance company will try to take advantage of you with an unfair financial settlement offer.
Life may not seem fair at this point either, which is why you need Fort Worth car accident lawyer Coby L. Wooten, of Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C., fighting for your rights. For almost 23 years, Wooten has been combining his experience and personal attention to secure justice and compensation for clients throughout Texas. He works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay him unless he wins your case. Contact him today for a free consultation.