The Mentor Police Department is partnering with The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to launch its “Speeding Wrecks Lives” speeding prevention campaign. The launch comes as new data show that while there has been a slight dip in overall roadway deaths, speeding fatalities reached a 14-year high in 2021 and make up almost one-third of all traffic fatalities.
The past few years have seen an increase in careless driving. No matter how safe of a driver you think you may be, speeding is dangerous. Speed limits aren’t a suggestion, they are the law. Obeying these posted speed limits keep drivers and passengers safe.
Much like impaired driving, speeding is a selfish choice that can have deadly consequences for the driver, vehicle passengers, or other pedestrians. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve.
The campaign, which will run from July 10-31, is one of many ways in which the U.S. Department of Transportation is working to address the crisis of deaths on our roadways through its National Roadway Safety Strategy. The NHTSA campaign is supported by a $9.6 million national media buy featuring English and Spanish-language ads running on television, radio and digital platforms. The ads target drivers ages 18 to 44, who data show are most likely to be involved in speeding-related fatal crashes.
The Mentor Police Department will do its part by enforcing traffic laws and issuing citations for speed violations.
NHTSA released new data on speeding, showing that speeding-related fatalities increased 8% from 2020 to 2021, with 12,330 people killed in 2021 speeding-related crashes. This represents 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2021. The estimated number of people injured in speeding-related crashes also increased by 7%. And 33% of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes were speeding, more than drivers of any other vehicle type.
The Mentor Police Department is urging motorists to slow down and obey the posted signs and to remember that ultimately, speeding catches up with you.
For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov.