The Seymour Police Department is joining law enforcement officers from six states on July 27 in this year’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Region 5 high-visibility Speed Awareness Day enforcement campaign.
This campaign in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin is an effort to address the drastic increase in speed and hazardous moving violations that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from SPD.
Speeding is involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities nationwide. NHTSA statistical projections for 2021 show traffic deaths grew by 10.5% to 42,915. This also represents the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the highest annual percentage increase in the recorded history of data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
In 2020, there were 5,413 fatal injuries in the six-state region with 1,668 (30.8%) being speed-related fatalities.
Traffic crashes that result in death due to speeding are higher in the summer months. The highest fatalities occur between June and September.
Speeding is more than just breaking the law. The consequences are far-ranging:
-Greater potential for loss of vehicle control
-Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment
-Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger
-Increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries
-Economic implications of a speed-related crash
-Increased fuel consumption/cost
“One of the most concerning aspects of speeding is the increased stopping distance,” SPD Sgt. Michael Cooper said in the news release. “A vehicle traveling at 30 mph will need about 110 feet to come to a complete stop. In comparison, a car moving at 60 mph will need over 300 feet to stop. This is almost the entire length of a football field.”
According to the NHTSA, drivers who speed also are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, such as not wearing a seat belt, drinking and driving or using a cellphone while driving.
The speed awareness campaign has a twofold approach: To combine increased zero-tolerance enforcement with effective communication to road users on the importance of obeying the speed limit.
High-visibility enforcement is a proven countermeasure for re-enforcing driver compliance with posted speed limits.
The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness and save lives.
“There is no reason to speed. It is unnecessary and endangers everyone on the road,” the news release states. “It may get you there a bit faster, but if you obey the speed limit signs, you will most likely arrive alive.”
For information, visit trafficsafetymarketing.gov.