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Tag: speeding

  • A New Law Concerning Variable Speed Limits

    A new law that took effect on September 1, 2023, allows for the creation of variable speed limits under certain circumstances. The law is meant to expedite the imposition of temporary speed limits to help Texas motorists stay safe in dangerous driving conditions.

    Drivers going too fast are a danger to themselves and others. How-fast-is-too-fast is defined not only by the speed limit, but by the road conditions. A variable speed limit closes the gap between the normal safe speed and the safe speed under the current conditions.

    When Should Variable Speed Limits Be Imposed?

    There are specific weather and road condition factors that could lead to a variable speed limit. The law allows engineers at the Texas Department of Transportation to make temporary adjustments to the normal speed.

    The adjustment can’t be more than 10 miles per hour down from the regularly posted limit. The use of a variable speed limit would be tied to things like road construction, ice on the roads, heavy fog, or thunderstorms.

    Road construction generally allows for more time in deciding to implement a reduced speed limit. The real advantage will be the ability to cut through red tape and quickly post a lower speed limit when bad weather or other unexpected factors make driving at the normal speed unsafe.

    Is This an Excuse for Speed Traps?

    This is not the first time Texas officials tried to pass a variable speed limit rule. Past efforts were defeated due to concerns that they would be used as an excuse to trick drivers into speeding infractions.

    Speeding tickets aren’t a good way to endear yourself to the public, so the measures failed. This version of the law passed relatively easily, with the sponsor of the bill thanking increased education efforts for the different result.

    Drivers with concerns can take solace in the limited scale of the variation (10 mph) and the fact that the change must be posted clearly with either digital signage or temporary signs placed over the top of the standard speed limit signs. A pilot program tested 10 years ago demonstrated that the rule did improve safety outcomes.

    You don’t have to drive in Texas for long to come up against severe weather conditions. Driving in terrible weather is not fun. Less experienced or overly aggressive drivers can make the problem worse by refusing to reduce their speed to match the conditions. This new law can help address that problem quickly and efficiently.

    Call for Experienced Personal Injury Advice

    The Fell Law Firm offers caring, experienced representation to victims of car and truck accidents. Call our Dallas offices today at 972-450-1418 to schedule a consultation with a skilled attorney. You can also visit our website to learn more about personal injury advice.

  • How Dangerous Is Speeding?

    Have you ever been told that a safe speed to drive is any speed at which you won’t get a ticket? Was that 9 MPH over the speed limit? Was it 5 MPH over?

    The truth is that there is no magic line above the speed limit that will protect you from being pulled over. More importantly, there is no set limit above the speed limit where you’re still “safe.” Speeding is a massive contributor to deadly car accidents in Texas and across the country.

    The Tale of the Tape

    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was a contributing factor in 11,258 traffic deaths in 2020. Statistically, that means speeding matched drunk driving in terms of the total deaths it caused. They’re both responsible for around 1 in 3 fatal car accidents.

    2020 was not an outlier in terms of percentages. Speeding is consistently the cause of around a third of deadly traffic incidents. While relatively few drivers would acknowledge driving drunk, and even fewer would defend it, many drivers are quite open about their willingness to violate speed limits.

    A survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that almost 50% of drivers reported having gone 15 MPH or more over the limit in the past month.

    Attitudes Change

    There was a time when driving drunk was seen as a minor concern. A person stumbling to their car to drive home might lead to a laugh as easily to real concern. In short, drunk driving was once treated as lightly as speeding is now.

    People didn’t understand how much impact alcohol had on a person’s ability to drive safely. And they still don’t understand how speed impacts your ability to drive safely.

    Reaction Time and Stopping Power

    How quickly a driver reacts to something is a big part of how speed kills when it comes to car and truck crashes. At 25 MPH you can react and stop in half the distance it would take if you were going 40. Doubling your speed does much more than double the danger.

    The faster you go, the less aware you are of what’s happening to your left and right. You get tunnel vision, and your depth perception suffers the faster you go. You might think that going 64 in a 55 MPH zone is no big deal, but it has a tremendous impact on what you see and how quickly you can stop or avoid a collision.

    Need Help After a Car Accident? Call Our Skilled Dallas-Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorneys Today

    The Fell Law Firm offers experienced, aggressive representation for victims of speeding accidents and other personal injuries. Our knowledgeable Dallas-Fort Worth personal injury lawyers are dedicated to providing excellent service while making sure you get full and fair compensation for what you’ve lost. Call our attorneys today at 972-450-1418 or contact us online for a free consultation.