Speeding is a factor in about a third of fatal crashes in this country. In Florida, as in many other parts of the country, some drivers don’t just exceed the posted speed limit. They engage in excessive speeding.
Collisions involving one or more speeding vehicles can increase the risk of serious and potentially fatal injuries for a number of reasons. Some may be obvious, but others are less so. For example,
- The force of a collision increases with speed.
- The faster a vehicle is going, the longer it takes to stop because the driver’s reaction and braking time both increase.
- As vehicle speed increases, the driver’s field of vision narrows.
Every added 10 miles per hour (mph) can double the risk of a crash being fatal, according to the Florida Safety Council. A driver or motorcyclist traveling at an excessive speed leaves other drivers and pedestrians little if any time to get out of their path.
Some Florida motorists are going well over 100 mph
Some Florida law enforcement agencies say they’re clocking more drivers and motorcyclists at over 100 mph. One Volusia County motorcyclist was caught going 145 mph. A driver in Polk County was stopped for going 130 mph. One Florida sheriff attributes the rise in speeds to bad driving habits people developed during the pandemic, when far fewer people were on the road.
Those who are seriously injured or survivors of loved ones killed by a speeding driver are wise to get experienced legal guidance to help them seek the maximum possible compensation to deal with medical bills and other expenses.