Speeding Contributed to Nearly One-Third of Fatal Accidents

Speeding remains a significant contributor to traffic fatalities in the U.S. In 2022, speeding fatalities accounted for about 29% of all traffic deaths, leading to over 12,000 lives lost and more than 300,000 injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a nationwide campaign called Speeding Catches Up with You, aimed at encouraging drivers to reduce speed and save lives.

The “Speeding Catches Up With You” Campaign

Launched on July 8, 2024, this NHTSA campaign ran through July 31 and included a $9.5 million media effort with ads on TV, radio, and digital platforms in both English and Spanish. The campaign underscored that speeding fatalities are not limited to highways; in fact, 87% of fatal speeding accidents occurred on non-interstate roads. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the risks of speeding in various settings, including residential areas and city streets.

Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman emphasized the danger of speeding, stating that it endangers everyone on the road, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. The NHTSA is urging drivers to consider their safety and that of others by adhering to speed limits.

Speed Management in the National Roadway Safety Strategy

The Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) prioritizes speed management as a critical component of reducing speeding-related fatalities. Central to the NRSS is the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program, which has allocated $1.7 billion to more than 1,000 communities, specifically to fund road safety projects that address issues like speeding.

Key actions within the NRSS include:

• Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): Rulemakings are underway to require AEB systems in all new vehicles, which will help prevent collisions related to excessive speed.
• Expansion of Emergency Medical Services Data: The National Emergency Medical Services Information System now includes data from all U.S. states, territories, and Washington, D.C., which will improve emergency response times for crashes involving speeding.
• Impaired-Driving Prevention Technology: The NHTSA is progressing with the development of new technology standards aimed at preventing impaired driving, further reducing the likelihood of accidents that involve speeding.

These initiatives are part of a comprehensive effort to decrease fatal accidents and injuries on U.S. roadways. By focusing on speed management, the NRSS supports broader efforts to make the nation’s roads safer for everyone.

Addressing Speeding Fatalities in the Future

Speeding remains a leading cause of preventable deaths on the road, and the NHTSA’s new campaign, Speeding Catches Up with You, serves as an urgent reminder for drivers to prioritize safety over speed. With 29% of traffic fatalities in 2022 attributed to speeding, adhering to speed limits can prevent accidents and save lives.

The NHTSA and the Department of Transportation are committed to implementing safety strategies like the NRSS to reduce speeding fatalities, not just through public awareness campaigns but also through new safety technologies and infrastructure improvements. By driving at safer speeds, drivers can contribute to a collective effort to make roads safer for all.

Speeding can often result in a ticket, which is preferable to a collision, but certainly not ideal. If you’re fighting a traffic ticket, then don’t do it alone. At TicketVoid.com, we connect drivers with qualified traffic attorneys who can assist you with your traffic ticket. Use our free, no-obligation attorney matching service today!