The Traffic Group, Inc., a traffic engineering firm recently did a study of four Maryland jurisdictions that deployed Optotraffic equipment in school zones.
Traffic Group Report 4
This report on the issue of speeding and the safety hazards it poses was put together by the Governor's Highway Safety Association: GHSA Speed Evaluation
This is an evaluation of the improvement in driver behavior, along with public feedback, as a result of our automated speed enforcement program in Prince George's County, Maryland: Prince George's County Evaluation
The following statistics were compiled by the Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Campaign at http://www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org/fast_facts.html
- 37,261 people died on roadways in America in 2008. Over 12,000 people died in speed-related crashes in 2008. Speeding in residential neighborhoods represents the single greatest complaint issue to police departments and city council representatives throughout the U.S. (KKAD25)
- Most speeders live in the neighborhood. (KKAD25)
- Based on the "General Estimates System" database of police-reported accidents, incapacitating pedestrian injuries rose from 18.2 percent in 25 mile-per-hour zones to 23.4 percent in 30 mile-per-hour zones. Pedestrian fatalities spiked respectively from 1.8 percent to 5.4 percent. This fatality rate represents a 3-fold increase for just that 5-mph increase.
- Crash rates increase faster with an increase in speed on minor roads (which includes residential streets) than major roads. (NHTSA)
- The death rate per million miles driven on residential streets is almost over 2 times the death rate on highways. (NHTSA)
- Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 2-14 years of age. (NHTSA - based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics)
- Speeding Triples the Odds of Crashing (AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)
- It is not unusual for speeders to be clocked in excess of 40 mph (and even 50 mph on occasion in 25-mph zones. (KKAD25)
- Speeding extends the distance necessary to stop of vehicle.
*At 20 mph the total stopping distance needed is 69 feet.
*At 30 mph, the distance needed is 123 feet.
*At 40 mph, the distance needed is 189 feet which may not be enough distance and time for you to avoid hitting an object or person on the road. (USDOT, NHTSA)
- If you hit a pedestrian:
*At 20 mph there is a 5% chance he or she will die.
*At 30 mph there is a 45% chance he or she will die.
*At 40 mph there is a 85% chance he or she will die.
Following are facts posted by the National Safe Kids Campaign on their website at http://www.safekids.org
WHEN AND WHERE MOTOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT DEATHS AND INJURIES OCCUR
- Seventy-five percent of motor vehicle crashes occur within 25 miles of home. In addition, 60 percent of crashes occur on roads with posted speed limits of 40 mph or less.
- Rural areas have higher motor vehicle crash incidence rates and death rates than urban areas. In addition, crashes in rural areas tend to be more severe.
The National Safe Kids Campaign presented the following information based on a study conducted in partnership with FedEx Express on observance of Stop Signs.
- Of vehicles surveyed, more than a third of motorists rolled through stop signs at intersections and nearly a tenth of motorists did not even slow down before the stop sign.
- At intersections with marked crosswalks, one quarter of vehicles stopped in or past the crosswalks.
- When only child pedestrians were present, nearly a third of motorists violated the stop signs.
- At intersections where pedestrians were crossing, nearly a quarter of drivers did not come to a complete stop.
The report further states that, "Each year, stop sign violations are associated with approximately 200 fatal crashes and 17,000 non-fatal injury crashes. Children are at risk of injury when stop sign and pedestrian right-of-way laws are violated."
