Dramatic Virginia Crash Shows Danger of Putting the Pedal to the Metal
The NHTSA estimates that speeding is a contributing factor in nearly one-third of fatal car accidents. A crash in Virginia exemplifies the danger of speeding and why it should be avoided.

December 01, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Board (NHTSB), motor-vehicle accidents caused 33,808 deaths in 2009. In addition, the agency estimates that speeding is a contributing factor in nearly one-third of fatal accidents. A car crash in Hopewell, Virginia, demonstrates how speeding can result in dangerous car accidents and why it should be avoided.

Last month, two young adults were driving north on Interstate 295 in Hopewell, Virginia, when the driver lost control of the car. According to Virginia State Police, the vehicle careened off the left side of the highway, sailed 70 feet down the embankment and ended up on nearby Western Street. That car was then hit by another that belonged to the city of Hopewell.

Amazingly, the young driver and his passenger suffered only minor injuries. The driver of the Hopewell city vehicle sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries, including a neck fracture .

A sergeant with Virginia State Police said that excessive speed was a factor in the crash, and the young driver was charged with reckless driving for failure to maintain proper control of the vehicle. This dramatic accident exemplifies the danger of speeding while driving.

Speeding Dangers

According to the NHTSA, more than 13,000 people lost their lives in speeding-related crashes in 2007. Additionally, speeding-related crashes cost society an estimated $1,281 each second and over $40 billion every year.

The NHTSA considers a crash speeding-related if the driver responsible for the accident was charged with a speeding-related offense or if an officer indicated that racing or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in the accident. Speeding can also include driving too fast for road conditions.

The NHTSA asserts that speeding is dangerous for a few reasons:
- First, it reduces the driver's ability to steer safely around curves or obstructions on the road.
- Second, it lengthens the distance required to stop a vehicle.
- Third, it increases the distance a vehicle travels before the driver reacts to a dangerous situation.

Even more, NHTSA analysis reveals that drivers who speed are also less likely to wear their seatbelts than drivers who do not speed, further increasing their risk of harm.

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