Speed kills and is a factor in about one-third of all car accidents. While most drivers seem to recognize the increased risk of car accidents and fatalities that accompany speeding, a great many are willing to engage in this behavior. This conflicted perspective may be a result of the tendency of many drivers to recognize the failings of other drivers, yet are blinded by overconfidence bias with respect to their own behavior.
The survey which was conducted by NTHSA in 2011 reports the answers given by survey participants, so some question may be affected by normative pressure, but more than 25 percent agreed that they enjoyed driving fast and 20 percent agreed that they try to get where they are going as fast as they can.
Speed, like drunk driving, is an entirely preventable killer. A driver decides to speed in the same way they decide to have an alcoholic drink. With the added risk posed by the omnipresence cellphone, speeding presents an even greater risk.
Studies have shown that texting and driving are riskier than driving drunk. When you add speeding to the mix, the physics of the equation becomes deadly. Distraction causes increased reaction times and speed reduces the time in which you have to act.
Listen to your better self and don’t speed.
Source: Bothell-reporter.com, “Newly released traffic safety report: Drivers want speeding to stop, still enjoy doing it,” Bothell Reporter Staff, December 24, 2013
