Warren County Sheriff’s Office works to save lives by reminding drivers to obey posted speed limits

Stop Speeding Before It Stops You.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 9,717 lives were lost across America in speeding-related traffic crashes during 2017. Of those, 219 occurred in Virginia. Virginia’s preliminary crash data for 2020 shows there was an overall increase in highway fatalities 827 in 2019 to 847 in 2020. Speed related fatalities were no exception. In 2019 there were 349 speed related fatalities and 404 in 2020.

NHTSA considers a crash speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense, or if the responding officer indicates that, the driver was driving too fast for conditions at the time or was exceeding the posted speed limit. In 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26 percent of all fatal crashes nationally.

“Even one life lost to speeding is one too many,” said Sergeant Robinson “That’s why Warren County Sheriff’s Office is joining NHTSA and other state and local law enforcement and highway safety leaders all across the nation to remind all drivers to Stop Speeding Before It Stops You.”

Nationally in 2017, 87 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occurred on non-Interstate roadways — where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or less. According to NHTSA, a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. Only 15 percent of the nation’s speeding-related fatalities occurred on Interstate highways that year.

“Too many lives are lost each year in speeding-related crashes, and we are determined to change that,” said Sergeant Robinson. “We are reminding drivers to stay alert, to watch for and obey all posted speed limits.

“Driving above the posted speed limit or speeding in bad weather conditions dramatically increases the probability that a motorist will be involved in a crash,” said Sergeant Robinson. “Any time drivers speed, they are putting themselves, their passengers, and other drivers and pedestrians at risk.”

In 2017, speeding was a factor in 17 percent of all fatal crashes on dry roads, and in 21 percent of those occurring on wet roads. In wintry conditions, the numbers were even worse — with speeding a factor in 34 percent of the fatal crashes when there was snow on the road, and in 43 percent of the fatal crashes that occurred on icy roads.

Speeding greatly reduces the driver’s ability to slow a vehicle when necessary or to steer safely around an unexpected curve, another vehicle or hazardous object in the roadway. In school zones or neighborhoods, that can include a child or an animal running across the road.

Among drivers involved in fatal crashes, young males are the most likely to have been found speeding. In fact, during 2015, 32 percent of male drivers ages 15-20 and 21-24 who were involved in a fatal crash were speeding at the time of the crash.

Speeding motorcyclists are also over-represented in crashes. In 2017, 33 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of crash, compared to 19 percent for passenger car drivers, 15 percent for light-truck drivers and 7 percent for large-truck drivers.

“Our goal is to save lives,” said Sergeant Robinson “Drivers need to remember that there is a reason posted speed limits exist. The roadways can be a dangerous place and the speed limits are designed to protect everyone – drivers, passengers, pedestrians – everyone! Many factors such as traffic, running late and plain disregard for others and the law play a role in what drives people to speed. The next time you get behind the wheel, please remember to Stop Speeding Before It Stops You.”