Taking to the roads in Texas is a necessity for most residents. Whether it is heading to work, school, taking leisure trips or for any other reason, drivers and passengers are aware of the possible dangers they may face. The state keeps track of accidents to try and reduce their frequency.
However, there are times when even their greatest efforts are ineffective. They subsequently make penalties for road misbehavior worse and initiate crackdowns to catch drivers. While notable, this does not help those who were hurt in a crash. Knowing what options are available is imperative to injured people and family members left behind after a fatality.
Recent crackdown designed to address increase in speeding
During the summer, there are more people on the road and a persistent danger is drivers who are going at excessive speeds. To combat that, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been cracking down on speeding drivers as part of “Operation SlowDown.”
Part of this is due to pure statistics. The agency reports that 2021 saw the most fatal collisions in four decades. More than one in three were related to speed. Officers were out in force catching and citing drivers who might have exceeded the speed limit.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the past 2 years in which the roads were less crowded and enforcement was substantially reduced led to drivers taking liberties with their behavior.
That included speeding. As things have gotten back to normal, they have not returned to their previous behaviors of generally obeying the law. The IIHS used Virginia roads for its study, but accidents and anecdotal evidence indicate that this is a nationwide problem.
Between March and June 2020, researchers looked at the number of speeding drivers during that time frame vs. the same time in 2019 and how many went 5 to 10 mph beyond the speed limit. They also looked at other factors like the time of day, the day of the week and the road itself.
While the roads were less busy, the number of vehicles that went 10 mph or more over the speed limit increased by 30% to 40%. During the morning commute hours on weekdays, that increased by 43%. The afternoon drive time saw a spike of 63%. Since rush hour was less of a hindrance, drivers took advantage of the emptier roadways to speed.
After an auto accident, experienced assistance can be key to moving forward
One of the most important aspects of pursuing a claim after being injured or losing a loved one in a motor vehicle accident is understanding the gravity of the situation. That requires experience in these cases. Since there are dramatic life changes that result from these collisions, the evidence must be accrued, the circumstances analyzed and the proper steps taken to have a good chance at a successful outcome.
Having comprehensive and experienced guidance throughout the process can be essential. As these statistics show, speeding is a prominent cause of many auto accidents in the Lone Star State, but there is always the potential for other catalysts. That includes drunk driving, drugged driving, recklessness, distracted driving and drowsy driving.
If, for example, a person who has a family and was simply heading home from their job is hit by another driver, their personal, financial and emotional future can be jeopardized. Aggressive, caring and experienced assistance can be the fundamental part of moving forward and being adequately compensated for medical care, lost income, pain and suffering and more. Discussing the case immediately is a priority right after getting emergency treatment.
