If questioned, most drivers would admit to occasionally speeding for a variety of reasons. While many drivers speed without consequence, accidents can occur because of their speeding. In 2020, speeding was the number one cause for motor vehicle accidents in Virginia, accounting for 22,479 of 105,600 reported crashes.
Speeding can also compound other safety issues, such as road conditions, weather conditions and nighttime driving concerns. For instance, if someone is driving while it is raining and they are speeding, they are more likely to be involved in an accident than if they had been driving the speed limit.
What are the potential consequences of speeding?
The consequences of speeding can be severe. Besides a greater potential for crashes, injuries can be more severe when a driver is speeding. Even if a speeder does not get into an accident, speeding can cause serious damage to their car. Speeding can damage their engine, as well as put significant wear on parts such as their brakes.
What are the legal penalties for speeding?
If someone is caught speeding, they may also face legal consequences in Virginia – especially if they cause a motor vehicle accident and end up injuring another driver. In addition to any civil claims, they may face additional penalties for reckless driving. Excessive speeding includes driving more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit or driving over 85 miles per hour, regardless of the speed limit.
In short, speeding in a car is just a bad plan. Unfortunately, you can only control your own actions. No matter how carefully you obey the traffic laws, some other driver could take a chance and crash into you while speeding. If that happens, make sure you take steps to protect your legal rights.
