Although speeding is one of the most common factors in motor vehicle crashes in the US, it is an underappreciated problem, involved in about 10,000 highway fatalities each year according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
More than 112,500 people died in speeding-related US highway crashes from 2005-2014. This is roughly equal to the number who died in alcohol-involved crashes over the same period. However, speeding gets far less attention.
Graph showing the total and Speeding-Related Traffic Fatalities, 2005-2014
In a speeding-related crash, there is a greater chance of being injured and the injuries are likely to be more severe or fatal.
The public is less aware of the risks of speeding compared with other risky driving behaviors. There is also less social stigma surrounding speeding than, for example, drinking and driving.
“Substantial reductions in highway crashes cannot be achieved without a renewed emphasis on the impact of speeding,” said NTSB Director of Research and Engineering Jim Ritter. “Lowering speeding-related highway deaths requires more effective use of countermeasures to prevent these crashes.”
The NTSB publicly discussed a new safety study on passenger vehicle speeding on July 25, 2017. The study examines proven and emerging countermeasures that can reduce the impact of speeding, but that are currently underused or ineffectively used. It will focus not only on speed enforcement, but also on how speeding is defined and how speed limits are determined.
Additionally, the study will highlight the scope of speeding-related passenger vehicle crashes, illustrate the risks of speeding and address some common misconceptions about speeding.
Opening Statement - Robert L. Sumwalt, Acting Chairman
Reducing Speeding-Related Crashes Involving Passenger Vehicles - Nathan Doble
Scope and Risk of Speeding - Ivan Cheung, PhD
Safety Issues: Speed Limits and Data-Driven Enforcement - Ivan Cheung, PhD
Safety Issues: Automated Speed Enforcement, Intelligent Speed Adaptation, and National Leadership - Nathan Doble
Closing Statement - Robert L. Sumwalt, Acting Chairman
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If you wish to obtain a copy of NTSB meetings, please contact the NTSB Records Management Division at (202) 314-6551 or 800-877-6799. You may also request this information from the NTSB web site or write the following: National Transportation Safety Board, Records Management Division (CIO-40), 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW,Washington, DC 20594. View archived video of meetings (Webcasts are archived for a period of three months from the time of the meeting.)