According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding contributes to 94% of motor vehicle accidents throughout New York and the rest of the U.S. In order to try and curb this problem, law enforcement personnel throughout the country will participate in Operation Safe Driver Week July 14-20. During the event, officers will be focusing on speeding commercial and passenger vehicles.
Advocates from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance believe that greater awareness of this problem by law enforcement and other drivers can help prevent many of the fatalities that occur every year from speeding. While traffic citations are very unpopular among the public, they do have an effect on driver behavior. In 2018, nearly 17,000 passenger vehicle drivers and 1,900 commercial motorists were issued tickets for speeding.
In addition to speeding, law enforcement will be looking for other dangerous driving behaviors during Operation Safe Driver Week. These behaviors will include following too closely, not wearing a seat belt, distracted driving, texting and failing to obey signals or traffic control devices. Still, speeding is the most common driver-related collision factor, based on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2016 Large Truck and Bus Facts.
Someone who has been hurt by a speeding motorist may be able to get compensation for hospital bills, missed wages, rehabilitation, property damage and pain and suffering. A lawyer could evaluate the circumstances of an accident and determine if the responsible party can be held accountable legally. In some cases, a settlement can be made with an insurance company or third party. However, going to court may be necessary for more complex situations.