All car accidents are unfortunate, but accidents caused by speeding are all the more traumatic considering they are entirely preventable. The truth is that speeding is a choice – bottom line. And when speeding occurs, the risk for car accident-related injury skyrockets on account of dangerous speeds and reduced response time. Plain and simple: Don’t speed!

As personal injury attorneys, our urgency follows on the heels of a recent Del Mar car accident that officials say was caused by a “high rate of speed” according to 760 KFMB News (4/16/2015).

Authorities say the speeding-related accident occurred when a 25-year-old driver lost control over her vehicle and careened off the roadway and down into an embankment. Tragically, the vehicle became engulfed in flames immediately following the crash and burst shortly thereafter.

The San Diego Police Department said the vehicle had traveled deep within the embankment, causing the wreckage to be unseen from the roadways. Officials said they used smoke trails to finally find the vehicle.

Sadly, the driver was killed as a result of the accident.

THE TRAGEDY OF SPEEDING

Speeding often results in San Diego car accidents. In fact, speeding is our second-most common cause of car accidents according to our “Top Causes of Car Accidents” page – one of Google’s top pages for causes of collisions. There’s no doubt that speeding is dangerous and extremely risky… So why do it?

Well, people choose to speed for a whole host of reasons ranging from poor time management skills to the thrill of the ride. No matter the reason to speed, it is still unsafe and reckless.

What do the statistics say?

Unfortunately, speeding-related car accidents seem to be on the rise according to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). Fatalities increased two percent from 2011 to 2012, contributing to nearly 30 percent of all traffic accidents.

The good news, though, is that since the recording of data, speeding-related fatalities have been on an overall decline. But there is more that can be done to make those numbers even smaller. Here’s how you can do your part to make our San Diego roadways even safer.

MAKE NOTE OF THE SPEED LIMIT

Sometimes it’s just as simple as being as aware of the speed limit as you can be. When you’re on city roads or residential or mixed use streets, be sure to check the signs and make changes if necessary. Often, you might notice a speed limit change immediately following stop sign. And, state highways most always have different limits than freeways.

MASTER TIME MANAGEMENT

If you drive a regular route like most people, be sure to accommodate for traffic especially when it comes to rush hour. A few minutes late into your evening commute could mean 30 minutes to an hour more getting home due to traffic. But please don’t try to make up for that loss by weaving in and out of traffic and speeding in open roadway areas. Instead, simply commit to leaving on time. If that’s simply impossible, consider taking side roads or an alternate route that can get you where you need to be on time – or at least simply quicker and more efficiently!

TRY TO REMAIN FOCUSED BEHIND THE WHEEL

In some cases, highway hypnosis can cause a driver to simply become unaware of their driving speed. But don’t let that happen to you! Driving requires your constant focus and that means checking the road – and your dashboard – frequently. Be sure you’re checking in with your vehicle, route and your mental state to ensure you’re prepared for whatever the road may bring ahead.

ABOUT MICHAEL PINES

Michael Pines is a personal injury attorney located in San Diego, California. He is the founder of Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers, APC., a law firm specializing in car accident representation. As San Diego’s most trusted personal law firm group, we have built our reputation on superior client service and excellent case results. For a FREE consultation, call us today at 1-858-551-2090.