A new study highlighting the perils of speeding on the nation’s highways urges action by policymakers and transportation stakeholders.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement, and to some extent federal regulators, speeding-related crashes overall still account for roughly one-third of all fatalities, according to a study by the Governors Highway Safety Association. The group calls speeding a “forgotten traffic safety challenge.”
The study released in late January said: “Overall progress on the issue of speeding has been limited at best.”
The governors’ study contains some new and not-so-new perspectives for convincing drivers of cars and trucks to slow down.
The study said speeding remains a publicly accepted driving behaviour that is reinforced among motorists, policymakers and transportation stakeholders. “Drivers have a minimal perception of risk of either getting a ticket, causing a crash or violating social norms.”
It also said federal, state and local policymakers are approaching speed management in ways that often reflect the current cultural attitude toward speeding.
While U.S. has had proposals governing speed limiters in commercial vehicles, currently Ontario and Quebec are the only two North American jurisdictions to require mandated speed limiters.