Speeding continues to be a problem on New York City roads

According to recent statistics from the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, speeding continues to pose a safety threat on the nation’s roads.

Based on 2019 numbers, NHTSA states that about 9,475 people lost their lives because of speeding. In terms of percentages, NHTSA estimates that over 25% of all motor vehicle fatalities in 2019 involved speeding to some extent.

A safe driving speed is not just about observing the speed limit

At the most basic level, motorists in and around New York City should observe the posted speed limit. The posted limit applies even when a person is passing a vehicle or just going with the flow of traffic.

But speeding also includes driving at a rate that is too fast for the road, traffic or weather conditions. For example, even if a motorist was traveling below the legal speed limit, he is responsible if he was driving too fast to keep control of a car on a wet road and spins into another vehicle.

Going too fast makes it more likely that a driver will lose control of a car or will not be able to react quickly enough to avoid an accident. Moreover, the faster one is traveling, the more likely it is that an accident will end with serious injuries, even if drivers are wearing their seatbelts.

Speeding drivers can and should be held accountable

People speed for many reasons. In some cases, it is just that people are not paying attention or are in a hurry to get to work, school or some other important event.

In other cases, people for whatever reasons just have little regard for the safety of others. They may be angry about traffic congestion or be trying to beat a stoplight before it turns red. Sometimes, people speed just because, quite frankly, they do not feel like the rules apply to them.

No matter the reason, speeding is not an acceptable driving behavior. A motorist who causes an accident while speeding can be held financially accountable under New York law for any injuries they cause.