Drunk driving is a serious public hazard, causing thousands of preventable auto accidents every year. But other driving behaviors can be just as dangerous, even if they don’t receive the same attention. Speeding, for example, increases the chances of injury or death, makes accidents harder to avoid, and puts other drivers at risk. In fact, you might be surprised to find that speeding is just as perilous as driving under the influence.

Drunk Driving vs. Speeding

Stats

According to a report from the National Transportation Safety Board, speeding contributed to 112,580 accident fatalities between 2005 and 2014, more than 10,000 per year. Driving under the influence, which has a greater social stigma, caused only slightly more during the same period, approximately 112,948. In both cases, drivers’ inability to control their vehicles caused auto accidents and severe injuries that could have been avoided.

Effects

Driving under the influence is dangerous because it impairs decision-making, lengthens reaction times, and disrupts the coordination you need to avoid sudden road hazards and changes in traffic. Drunk drivers may suddenly veer into oncoming traffic, forget to stop in time to prevent a collision, or fall asleep behind the wheel.

While its effects are less dramatic, speeding has similar issues, giving drivers less reaction time for changing conditions and making it almost impossible to recover from a momentary loss of control. At high speeds, even a minor miscalculation or fluctuation in the traffic pattern causes catastrophic accidents with fatal consequences.

If you’ve been seriously hurt in an auto accident, the attorneys at Coyne, Cundiff & Hillemann, P.C., in Lake St. Louis, MO, will help you collect compensation for your injuries. Visit their website to learn more about their specialized services, call (636) 561-5599 to speak with a lawyer, and follow the firm on Facebook for more tips, advice, and updates.