Posted in Car Accident,Negligence,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on September 1, 2015
IIHS Presents Research in Nashville about Effectiveness of Traffic Cameras
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is holding a presentation in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday to report the findings of their recent research into the effectiveness of traffic cameras when it comes to reducing incidences of speeding.
According to a report by wkrn.com, the presentation centers on data that the IIHS collected from a Maryland community just outside Washington D.C. where multiple speeding enforcement cameras were installed in 2007.
After the cameras were installed, police in the area said that the number of drivers who exceeded the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more dropped 59 percent. In addition, the number of crashes with serious or fatal injuries in the area also dropped 19 percent.
The IIHS said in its presentation that only 138 jurisdictions in the United States currently use speed enforcement cameras, but presenters with the organization said they hope the proven effectiveness of the cameras will lead to their installation in other cities throughout the country.
3 Ways that Speeding Puts You at an Increased Risk for Accidents
Every public road in the United States has a posted speed limit. Those speed limits aren’t derived arbitrarily or designed simply for police to fine speeders—they’re posted in an effort to make roads as safe as possible based on the driving conditions that drivers will face. Interstates typically have speed limits ranging from 55 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour, while narrow and curvy roads may have speed limits as low as 15 or even 10 miles per hour.
Whether you’re traveling 10 miles per hour above the speed limit on an interstate or a cramped rural road, you’re putting yourself and others in danger due to the following factors:
Safe driving requires you staying fully in control of your car, truck, or SUV at all times. When you exceed the speed limit for a given road, you’re much more likely to lose control of your vehicle when rounding a corner or driving over any areas of the road that are slick or covered in loose gravel.
If you’re driving directly behind another vehicle, speeding and following too closely both significantly increase your risk of rear-ending that vehicle if the driver slows down or has to brake suddenly. Always leave ample room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you and drive at a reasonable speed in order to give yourself more time to react and your vehicle more time to slow down.
Although they’re more common in top-heavy vehicles like trucks, SUVs, and minivans, all vehicles are susceptible to flip and rollover accidents—especially if they’re driven at speeds well above the posted limits. Speeding and changing lanes, swerving to avoid an accident, or even rounding a sharp turn can all put your vehicle at severe risk of turning over, which in turn can cause severe injuries to you, your passengers, and any other motorists who are involved in the accident.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Lebanon car accident attorneys has helped countless auto accident victims over the years, and we know that speeding is a factor in a significant number of crashes that occur in Middle Tennessee. That’s why we support measures that help increase awareness of the dangers of speeding and increased enforcement from police to reduce the number of speeding drivers on roadways throughout the mid-state area.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. To find out how our legal team can help you get the money you deserve, get in touch with us today by dialing (615) 547-2683 or filling out a free online form.
