WHY DO PEOPLE SPEED

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that speed plays a role in 31% of all fatal crashes, which translates to 13,256 lives lost in 1995. Tens of thousands more people suffered moderate or critical injuries in speeding-related crashes. Despite sobering statistics such as these, a Federal Highway Administration study concluded that 7 of 10 drivers exceeded the speed limit in urban areas, and compliance was worse on low-speed roads. Some blame drivers knowing that they can get away with speeding because of spotty enforcement as the reason why drivers speed. Others believe that highway design leads to higher speeds. While research continues on the whys, the nation employs education, enforcement, and engineering to counter speeding. Sidebars investigate the effect of dropping the federally mandated speed limit and present results of a reader survey on why people speed.