Whether someone is running late, impatient or just feels the “need for speed,” many motorists travel Kentucky’s roadways above the posted speed limits or too fast for the road or weather conditions. In 2016, speeding accounted for approximately 27 percent of the fatalities on the nation’s roadways. Even though many people believe that speeding is not a big deal, it can easily lead to a devastating car accident.
The problem is so pervasive that some states regard it as aggressive driving and include it in their aggressive driving laws, which also often include behaviors such as tailgating, running red lights or improper passing. Many public information campaigns and education programs regarding safe driving target speeding as much as they do impaired driving. In many cases, enforcement efforts have increased in school zones and other areas where public support is higher.
Even so, the Governors Highway Safety Association believes that more action is required. In fact, the GHSA would like to see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sponsor a nationwide campaign against speeding and aggressive driving. The hope is that these efforts will reduce the number of traffic fatalities involving speed as a factor.
All of these efforts may help, but until speed is no longer a factor in roadway deaths, families may still lose loved ones in a devastating car accident. If you find yourself in this situation, you may be able to file a wrongful death against the speeding driver who is believed to have caused the crash. Before embarking on this type of litigation, it makes good sense to consult with a Kentucky attorney to ascertain the best course of action under the circumstances.
Source: ghsa.org, “Speeding and Aggressive Driving“, Accessed on Feb. 12, 2018
