Drivers are expected to drive at a speed that is safe for the road and weather conditions. Excessive speeding increases the chances of a vehicular accident and death. Although there are posted speed limits all throughout the country, drivers are required to drive at a speed that is safe for the current road and weather conditions. This means that at times it will be safer to drive below the posted speed limit, especially when there are hazardous conditions on the road.
In the United States this concept is referred to as the “basic rule.” Under the basic rule, lower speeds may be required due to wind, rain, fog, ice on the road or other hazardous conditions.
Nearly every public road in the United States has a legally assigned numeric maximum speed limit. In most cases signs are placed at both sides of the road so drivers coming from both directions can see them. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 13,192 speed-related fatalities in 2004. What’s more, the economic cost of speed-related crashes was $40.4 billion dollars, which amounted to 18% of the total crash costs, with the average cost being $144 for every person in the United States. (NHTSA 2002)
According to research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it was found that when speed limits were increased in many states in 1996, the motor vehicle fatalities went up 15% on interstate highways in those states.
Age is a significant factor in speeding. In fact, the proportion of speed-related crashes decreases as drivers get older. In 2002, 39% of male drivers from 15 to 20 years old who were involved in a fatal crash were speeding at the time of the accident. (NHTSA 2003)
Alcohol and speeding go hand in hand, what’s worse, they are a deadly combination. In 2002, a whopping 42% of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the accident, compared to just 15% of sober drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Speeding not only affects drivers of motor vehicles, it affects motorcyclists as well. In 2002, 38% of all motorcyclists who were involved in a fatal crash were speeding. According to the NHTSA, the percentage of speeding involvement was twice as high in fatal motorcycle accidents as it was for drivers of passenger cars and trucks. Furthermore, alcohol involvement was 45% higher for motorcyclists.
In North Carolina, you will accrue three points on your driving record if you are found guilty of speeding in excess of 55 mph. Not only would a ticket add points to your driving record, but it can make you one step closer to a suspended license and it can affect your insurance premiums.
If you have been issued a speeding ticket, it’s important to contact an attorney before paying your fine. Once you pay the fine you are admitting guilt, and what many people may not realize is that something can be done about their speeding ticket. Although most speeding tickets are infractions, in certain circumstances a person can be charged with misdemeanor speeding, which is a criminal offense. A conviction for a misdemeanor can mean probation, jail time, fines and community service.
It’s common for people to feel required to pay their fine. Although a ticket cannot be ignored, there may be a way to dispute the charges instead and possibly keep your driving record clean. The best thing for you to do is contact an attorney who is closely familiar with handling traffic ticket cases. You may save yourself points on your driving record, and potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars in increased insurance costs.
