Studies have found that roughly 29% of fatal car accidents are speed-related crashes. In 2023, for example, these accidents led to nearly 12,000 deaths in the United States.
As such, it is clear that speed has a major impact on road safety. There are two particularly important components to keep in mind.
Increases to crash energy
First and foremost, when there is a car accident, one that happens at a higher rate of speed will contain more energy, thus inflicting more damage on the accident victims. The mass and speed of the vehicles at the point of impact help to determine how much energy is transferred from one car to the other.
This is a major part of the reason why accidents at high speeds are more likely to be deadly. If two vehicles collide at 20 mph, it is a combined impact speed of just 40 miles an hour. Serious injuries are possible, but less likely. Meanwhile, if two vehicles are involved in the exact same collision at 70 mph, there is a very high chance that someone will suffer fatal injuries.
Increases in accident totals
Secondly, speed can actually directly cause accidents to happen when they would not have otherwise. For instance, a speeding driver is more likely to lose control of their vehicle. If they approach stopped traffic at a construction zone, they are more likely to cause a rear-end accident. Someone who is speeding and tailgating another car does not have enough space to react, so they are more likely to cause a crash. A speeding driver may be more likely to run a stop sign or a red light.
At the end of the day, speeding leads to more accidents, and it makes car accidents more severe, causing a significant number of injuries and fatalities. Those who have been harmed by the negligence of other drivers can speak with a skilled legal team to learn about what legal options they have to seek financial compensation accordingly.