The latest study exploring the speed of Utah drivers was performed at a construction zone along I-80 through Salt Lake Valley. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the study showed an average speed of 72 miles per hour despite a posted speed limit of 55.
Did you know that for every 10 miles per hour over 50 miles per hour, the risk of death doubles in a Utah auto accident? The highway patrol reports that highway patrol growth does not always increase with population growth. In fact, the manpower the UHP has today is about the same as it was in the 1970s. This is why Utah state troopers are asking for help. “”We can’t have a trooper visible every couple of miles you go down the roadway. We really need the public’s support and help, and also accountability in letting off that gas pedal and actually going the speed limit. A lot of people are going way too fast.”
The Utah Highway Patrol says speeding adds an element of danger to crashes in the following ways:
*Magnifies drivers’ errors
*Extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle
*Increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a situation
*Reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway
*Decreases the effectiveness of vehicle design features, such as air bags and seat belts
*Reduces the stability of the vehicle structure
*Increases the number of crashes
*Increases the severity of crashes. For every 10 MPH over 50 MPH, the risk of death in a crash is doubled
Remember that speed limits are not designed to inconvenience the driver. Speed limits are designed to protect everyone on the road, from drivers and passengers to pedestrians.
Ron Kramer is a Utah accident and injury lawyer with offices in Bountiful, Draper and Provo, Utah
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