Speeding Forum Set for April, IIHS Says

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Governors Highway Safety Association will jointly host a forum in April to address the ongoing problem of speeding, which is a factor in about 10,000 roadside fatalities each year.

The meeting will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to brainstorm and identify strategies designed to reduce speeding, prevent crashes, and save lives.

The April 15-16 speeding forum will be held at the institute's Vehicle Research Center in Ruckersville, Virginia.

Approximately 41 million speeding tickets are issued in the U.S. each year. Yet the agencies spearheading the forum say the persistent problem of speeding is not being addressed effectively. Data shows that vehicles traveling at higher speeds are more likely to experience collisions because it takes longer to stop or slow down.

Higher speed limits in some parts of the country are one key concern, which will be a topic of discussion at the forum.

Experts say higher speed limits contribute to the problem of speeding. People often drive faster than the speed limit, and if the limit is raised they will go faster still. Moreover, research shows that when speed limits are raised, speeds go up, as do fatal crashes.

Since 1995, maximum speed limits have been on the rise. Presently, six states have a maximum speed limit of 80 mph and another 12 states have a maximum of 75 mph. Only Texas allows speeds as high as 85 mph.

However, in the 2019 legislative session, at least seven states have introduced bills to raise limits to 75 mph or higher.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet