According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, speeding accounts for more than 25% of all the car crash deaths that have occurred since 2008. The organization also reported that 94% of the traffic crashes in 2015 involved speeding. Drivers of both passenger and commercial vehicles in North Carolina should know, though, that something is being done to reduce car crash numbers, especially speeding-related ones.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will increase enforcement of traffic laws during its yearly Operation Safe Driver Week. In 2019, it will take place from July 14 to 20, and the focus will be on speeding. Passenger and commercial vehicle drivers will be under increased observance from law enforcement officials.
During 2018’s Operation Safe Driver Week, 1,908 CMV and 16,909 passenger vehicle drivers were cited for speeding. In all, police contacted 113,331 drivers, issued 57,405 citations and gave 87,907 warnings.
Speeders are not the only unsafe drivers for which law enforcement will be looking. They will keep their eyes open for distracted, drunk, drugged and reckless or aggressive drivers. They will check to see that drivers wear their seat belts, signal lane changes, obey traffic signals, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front and so on.
While increased enforcement does have a positive effect on car crash rates, many drivers will continue to be negligent and careless. Anyone injured by someone who was driving too fast may be able to build up a personal injury case and pursue it with the responsible driver’s auto insurance company. It’s likely that the victim will face opposition or be forced to agree to a lowball settlement, which is why having a lawyer is considered so important. The victim may want to schedule a case evaluation at his or her earliest convenience.
