According to the results of a study by the National Transportation Safety Board, the rise in traffic deaths in Florida and the rest of the country is due to speeding. The study looked at how speed kills and what can be done prevent crashes caused by speeding.
Passenger vehicle crashes in the United States that occurred from 2005 to 2014 were examined for the study. It was found that speeding was the main contributing factor in approximately 31 percent of the fatalities, or 112,580 deaths. This statistic is comparable to that of the number of traffic fatalities in which alcohol was the main factor during the same period.
There are some similarities between speeding and drunk driving, as indicated by the NTSB report. Drivers who are speeding and those who are driving under the influence both have a higher chance of getting in a motor vehicle accident and increases the likelihood that their passengers as well as pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles will be gravely harmed or killed as well.
One of the recommendations the NTSB offers in order to curtail traffic deaths related to speeding is to amend the consequences for speeding so that they are the same as those for a DUI. Individuals who are guilty of driving while under the influence are subject to much harsher consequences than those who have been convicted of speeding. In many states, drivers whose breathalyzer results are over a specific blood alcohol level will automatically have their license suspended. There have also been national campaigns that have successfully stigmatized drunk driving, while very little awareness has been raised about speeding dangers. People who have been injured in a car crash caused by a speeding motorist might want to have legal assistance when pursuing compensation for medical expenses and other losses.