Speeding – the driver-behavior of exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions – has consistently been estimated to be a contributing factor in approximately one third of all fatal crashes1. The cost of speeding-related crashes is estimated to be $40.4 billion annually, representing approximately 18% of the total cost of crashes2. The role of speeding in crashes is difficult to ascertain. The definition of speeding is broad and the determination of whether speeding was involved in a fatal crash is often based on the judgment of the investigating law enforcement officer. Even if speeding is listed as a contributing factor in a crash, it may not have been the causative factor. Speeding is a complex problem, involving the interaction of many factors including public attitudes, road user behavior, vehicle performance, roadway design and characteristics, posted speed limits and enforcement strategies. Accordingly, an interdisciplinary approach involving engineering, enforcement, and education is needed to reduce speeding-related crashes, fatalities and injuries. This comprehensive approach is speed management. Speed management involves a balanced effort: defining the relationship between speed, speeding and safety; applying road design and engineering measures to obtain appropriate speeds; setting speed limits that are safe and reasonable; applying enforcement efforts and appropriate technology that effectively targets crash producing speeders and deters speeding; effectively marketing communication and educational messages that focus on high-risk drivers; and, soliciting the cooperation, support and leadership of traffic safety stakeholders. While speeding can be considered a national problem, it is clear that effective solutions must be applied locally. In 2003, 86 percent of speeding-related fatalities occurred on roads that were not Interstate highways. The speeding-related fatality rate per vehicle mile traveled is highest on local and collector roads where the lowest speed limits are posted, presenting additional problems. Speed limits for motorists represent trade-offs between risk and travel times for a road class or specific highway section. Decision makers often attempt to achieve an appropriate balance between the societal goals of safety and mobility. The process of setting speed limits is often viewed as a technical exercise, but the decision involves value judgments and trade-offs that are frequently handled through the political process in state legislatures and city councils. Road conditions vary too widely to justify a “one-size-fits-all” approach. There is no single “right” answer in setting appropriate speed limits or conducting enforcement activities because policy makers in different communities may legitimately disagree on the priority given to the factors – safety, travel time, enforcement expenditures, community concerns – that affect decisions about speed limits. The primary focus of speed management must remain on safety. (Author/publisher)
Abstract