Cars are certainly designed to make it easier for individuals to get from one location to another. Caution must be exercised, however, to drive an automobile with care and within a reasonable speed given the conditions of the road and various other external hazards that could present an issue for drivers. Car accidents in Providence caused by speeding are increasing with alarming regularity, as the following statistics allude to. If you were injured in an auto accident, call RI injury lawyers.
Causal Factors and speeding
Speeding accident
Every year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes statistics related to car accidents in attempt to educate the broader public about the various factors that, left unchecked, could cause serious injury or fatality. The NHSTA attributes an accident to speeding if the driver of one of the vehicles is officially charged with a traffic violation related to driving at an excessive speed. This typically involves the officer noting that the driver was either racing, driving faster than the prevailing road conditions allow, of going over the speed limit that is posted for that particular route.
Gender and Age Related Factors
Of the drivers that are involved in a fatal crash where speed was a mitigating factor, young males tend to be the most likely to be the culprit. In addition, the prevalence rate of speeding tends to decrease as the driver ages, which leads to a corresponding decrease in speeding related fatalities. In one recent year, 24 percent of female drives aged 15 to years old, along with 19 percent of female drivers aged 21 to 24, were speeding at the time of a car accident fatality. For males, that number increases to 37 percent in both the 15 to 20 year old category and the 21 to 24 year old range.
Alcohol Related Statistics
The NHTSA also notes statistics showing that drivers who are under the influence of alcohol are more likely to speed. In 2012, it was found that 42 percent of speeding drivers had a blood alcohol concentration over .08 upon being involved in a fatal crash. During that same year, 28 percent of drivers under the age of 21 involved in a speeding related crash were considered to be under the influence of alcohol, while only 13 percent of non-speeding drivers in the same age category were found to have been drinking prior to their accident.
If you find yourself in need of legal assistance due to a speeding related accident, contact a professional and experienced Rhode Island automobile accident attorney as soon as possible.