Law enforcement across New Jersey is stepping up enforcement to combat speeding this month.
Speeding fatalities have continue to increase, rising a dramatic 17 percent from 2019 to 2020 and another estimated 5 percent from 2020 to 2021, according to NHTSA. Even advancements in vehicle safety and passenger protection cannot keep people safe from the dangers of speeding.
In New Jersey, speeding killed 178 people, which accounted for 26 percent of all crash fatalities in 2021, the most recent data available, according to the Attorney General's Office and Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Young drivers and motorcyclists are especially prone to high speed crashes, and represent the largest demographic involved in speeding-related vehicle crashes. Statewide, in 2021, 34 percent of all drivers involved in fatal speeding crashes were between 17 and 26 years of age, 79 percent were male and 21 percent were female drivers.
For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2021, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities, according to NHTSA. Speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all fatal crashes nationally.
NHTSA warns that speeding behavior and aggressive drivers may not only affect the speeder — it can also affect other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. They offer some tips if you ever encounter speeders on the road:
- If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by.
- Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicle more easily.
- Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.
- Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.