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SECTION II
Introduction
Approximately 42,000 automobile-related fatalities occur each year in the United States.
Nearly one-third of fatal crashes are speeding-related. In Traffic Safety Facts 2006--Speeding,
NHTSA defines a speeding-related crash as a crash in which "the driver was charged with a
speeding-related offense or if an officer indicated that racing, driving too fast for conditions,
or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in the crash" (NHTSA, 2006,
p. 1). Excessive speeds reduce a driver's ability to react and maneuver, and require greater
stopping distances. The severity of a collision, particularly those involving pedestrians,
bicyclists, and motorcyclists increases dramatically with the speed of collision.
Excessive or inappropriate speeds result from two basic problems, both of which involve
human factors considerations. Driver behavior (i.e., consciously choosing a clearly
inappropriate speed) is one aspect of the problem. The second is associated with driver
response to the environment (i.e., inadvertent selection of a speed that is inappropriate or
unsafe, failure to adjust or change speeds, or failure to perceive the speed environment and
as a result incur risk of a collision or conflict). It is both of these types of problems that this
guide seeks to address.
Efforts to reduce speeding and speeding-related crashes need to be multi-disciplined in
order to address all factors that contribute to a driver's choice of inappropriate speed or
misunderstanding of what a safe speed would be. Speeding-related crashes can be reduced
with increased efforts in education, engineering, and enforcement. Strategies in this guide are
encouraged for implementation by state and local highway agencies, especially where there is
a high frequency or rate of serious crashes that appear to involve inappropriate speeds.
Many of the strategies discussed in this guide are engineering-related. However, it is
important to consider the need to involve stakeholders, and other safety professionals who
will either be directly involved, or who can provide additional perspectives and expertise for
implementing planned strategies. In some cases, implementation of the strategy will directly
impact operations on the highway. In such cases, many elements of the safety community
(e.g., law enforcement, EMS, fire departments, utilities companies, contractors, media,
adjacent land users and owners) are best involved from early planning stages.
II-1
