Too many Orange County motorists treat speed limits as a suggestion — or a challenge. Speeding is a huge public safety problem, especially on the highway.
Most people who habitually exceed the speed limit insist they are in control of their vehicle. But the facts prove otherwise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding American drivers caused 11,258 deaths in auto wrecks in 2020. That accounts for 29 percent of all traffic fatalities that year. Among other things, a speeding motorist has a higher chance of losing control and makes a potential collision more severe. It also reduces the ability of airbags, seatbelts and other safety equipment to keep victims safe. All because somebody disregarded the posted speed limit because they believed they were invincible or the lives and safety of other people do not matter.
Driving 99 mph, accused of killing a woman
Exceeding the speed limit is always dangerous, but extreme speeding shows a particular disregard for the safety of innocent people on the road. In a trial underway in Santa Ana, a man is accused of driving his sports car 99 mph when he crashed into another, killing a woman. The prosecutor told the jury that the defendant habitually drove at extreme speeds. After the collision, a witness said, the defendant seemed much more concerned about the condition of his Camaro than the woman in the other car.
Besides criminal charges, a speeder who hurts somebody else in a car accident can be held accountable in a personal injury lawsuit. Victims may be able to recover damages for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and more.