All drivers know the set speed limits on roadways, but many drivers fail to abide by them. Find out more about speeding and how it contributes to accidents.

Every driver on California roadways sees the speed limit signs. They know this is the law and they must drive the posted speed or risk getting a ticket from law enforcement. However, many drivers are willing to risk getting pulled over and disobey the speed limit. In fact, this is common practice on all roadways across the country.

An accepted wrong

Forbes notes that a top reason why drivers speed is that it is so accepted by society. People do not usually condemn others for speeding as they would for other road violations, such as drunk driving. People feel it is okay to do it and the chances of getting caught are pretty low. The reality is that speeding is very dangerous. It actually kills as many people as drunk driving.

A closer look at speeding

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2016, 27 percent of deaths from accidents were caused by speeding. Speed limits are set based on research and information about the roadway. When a driver speeds, he or she has less control over the vehicle and requires more time to react. Speeding also reduces the ability of vehicle safety devices to work effectively.

It is important to note that speeding is not only going faster than the posted limit. It also includes going too fast for road conditions. Drivers are required to pay attention to what is happening on the road and adjust speed accordingly to drive safely.

Controlling speeding

Speeding can increase the severity of injuries and the chances of being involved in an accident according to the National Transportation Safety Board. These are well-known facts, but this problem is still not receiving the attention it needs from lawmakers or law enforcement. Many agencies focus more on other road violations, such as drunk driving or distracted driving, which allows speeding to become an even more acceptable practice.

It has been found the best way to stop speeding is the use of automated speed enforcement. Unfortunately, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, automated speed enforcement is not legal in California.

Hoodline reported that there was a recent attempt to get speed cameras in California. The proposed bill would have only been a pilot program in San Francisco. However, there was a lot of opposition and the bill failed to be enacted.

So, for now, automated speed enforcement is not an option in California. This means drivers need to be more observant of speed limits and understand the impact speeding can have. If you have been in an accident caused by speed, consider contacting an attorney such as the Law Offices of Michael R. Kaiser.