What Do You Gain by Speeding?

Posted on behalf of Jeff Pitman on May 19, 2009 in Car Accidents
Updated on February 24, 2022

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation published this interesting article on their web site under the May Law of the Month section:

After months of slipping and sliding on roadways, drivers now have the luxury of clear pavement and nice weather. Because of these favorable road conditions, drivers also face the temptation of exceeding speed limits. Giving into this frequent temptation, however, can be disastrous.

A person is killed or injured in a speed-related crash in Wisconsin approximately every 47 minutes, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Even exceeding the posted limit by 5 miles per hour puts drivers, their passengers, and every one else on the road at a greater risk of a serious crash, says Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. Drivers traveling at high speeds for an extended period of time on the open road also tend to not slow down sufficiently when approaching an intersection, construction zone or slower vehicles.

Speeding can be expensive as well as dangerous. Under Wisconsin law, the costs of speeding citations range from $160.80 all the way up to $879 along with three to six demerit points assessed on the drivers record. A citation for driving 25 mph or more over the limit in a 55 or 65 mph zone requires a 15-day driver license suspension.

Speeding can be costly at the gas pump, too. At speeds above 60 mph, gas mileage decreases rapidly. Drivers can assume that each 5 mph they drive above 60 mph is about equal to paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Despite the dangers and expense of speeding, too many people willingly exceed posted limits. Speeding is by far the most common traffic conviction in Wisconsin. Last year, there were more than 192,000 speeding convictions statewide, which was more than 26 percent of all traffic convictions.

Many people speed in a futile attempt to get where they are going a little sooner. But as Superintendent Collins points out, If youre stopped for speeding or are involved in a crash, any time saved will be lost and then some.

If you have been injured in a car accident that you believe was caused by another motorist, contact a Milwaukee car accident lawyer at PKSD today. We charge no upfront fees to handle your claim and your initial consultation is also free of charge.

PKSD – Ph: 877-877-2228.

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