Why Is Speeding So Dangerous?

How much difference can five miles per hour really make? Behind the wheel, speed often affects whether you walk away from a scare or don’t walk away at all. Sadly, thousands of Wisconsin drivers discover this truth each year. Speeding might seem like a minor traffic violation, especially if you’re only going a few miles per hour over the limit, but it’s one of the most dangerous behaviors on the road contributing to car accidents.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that driving too fast is a factor in almost one-third of all fatal crashes annually. In Wisconsin, annual speed-related crashes number in the tens of thousands. In 2023, more than 6,500 people were injured and 176 were killed in crashes where speed was a contributing factor.

Here’s why speeding increases the likelihood and severity of car accidents, and how Wisconsin law treats speed-related crashes.

Why Speeding Is So Deadly: The Physics Behind the Danger

At its core, speeding is dangerous because it multiplies the forces involved in a crash and reduces a driver’s ability to avoid one. Even small increases in acceleration change what happens behind the wheel:

1. Longer Stopping Distances

When you double your speed, your stopping distance doesn’t just double; it quadruples.

That extra distance needed to stop on Wisconsin’s rural roads or slick winter highways can mean the difference between a near miss and a deadly crash.

2. Reduced Reaction Time

The faster you drive, the less time you have to react to sudden changes, like a deer crossing the road, a driver slamming on their brakes, or black ice.

At 70 mph, you travel more than 100 feet every second. If something unexpected happens, there’s often no time to slow down or steer away safely.

3. Loss of Vehicle Control

Higher speeds make vehicles harder to handle, particularly around curves or on uneven or slippery roads. Wisconsin drivers know how quickly weather can change: rain, snow, and ice reduce tire traction.

Even a minor steering correction can cause a loss of control at high speeds, sending a car into another lane, off the road, or into oncoming traffic.

4. Greater Impact Force and Injury Severity

Crash severity increases exponentially with speed. A collision at 40 mph produces four times more crash energy than a collision at 20 mph. That additional force leads to more severe injuries, more fatalities, and greater property damage.

Seatbelts and airbags are also less effective at higher speeds because the force they must counteract is much greater.

Real-World Scenarios Where Speed Leads to Serious Crashes

Speeding doesn’t always mean exceeding the posted speed limit. Drivers can still be considered speeding if they’re going too fast for conditions, a common factor in Wisconsin crashes.

• Too Fast for Weather Conditions: Driving 55 mph on icy roads or in heavy fog can be reckless even under the speed limit.
  
• Aggressive Driving and Road Rage: Tailgating, weaving through traffic, and racing increase crash risk.
  
• Distracted Driving at High Speeds: When combined with distractions like texting, speeding especially reduces drivers’ time to notice and react to hazards.

These scenarios often end with rear-end collisions, rollover crashes, or devastating head-on accidents, many of which could have been avoided with slower speeds.

Wisconsin’s Speeding Laws and Legal Consequences

Exceeding posted speed limits and driving “at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions” is prohibited by Wisconsin law. That means drivers can face citations and liability for going too fast on icy roads, through construction zones, or in heavy traffic, even if they’re technically under the limit.

From a legal perspective, speeding is evidence of negligence in a personal injury case. If another driver was speeding and caused your crash, that violation helps establish fault and strengthens your compensation claim.

In serious injury cases, police reports, witness statements, and vehicle data can all be used to prove that excessive speed contributed to the accident.

Tips for Managing Your Speed

Slowing down might seem simple, but in practice, it requires intentional habits:

• Leave early to avoid rushing.
• Use cruise control on highways to maintain safe speeds.
• Adjust your speed for weather, road conditions, and visibility.
• Stay in the right lane if you drive slower than the traffic flow.

Remember: the few minutes you save by speeding are never worth a devastating crash, severe injuries, or even a life lost.

Get Help From Experienced Appleton Car Accident Lawyers

If you were injured in a crash caused by a speeding driver, you shouldn’t have to deal with the financial and emotional fallout alone.

At Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers, we believe you should never settle for less than you deserve. We built our firm on the idea that personal injury law should focus on you, your story, and your recovery. That’s why we take the time to understand your situation and craft a strategy tailored to your needs.

Our track record speaks for itself. We’ve recovered millions for Wisconsin crash victims, including multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for auto and motorcycle accidents.

Contact our Appleton car accident lawyers for a free case review. We’re here 24/7 to protect your rights, hold negligent drivers responsible, and help you rebuild your life after a serious crash.