After 1,300 tickets for speeding at 90 mph in Nebraska so far this year, the Nebraska Department of Transportation and North Platte police are joining a statewide effort to get drivers to ease off the accelerator.
Agencies across the state are asking motorists to watch their speed through a public education campaign to emphasize how speed limits are critical to the safety of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.
As traffic volumes continue to grow, speeding has become a serious issue. Speeding and high volume traffic have resulted in a staggering number of speeding tickets. Because excessive speeding is an issue across the country, agencies are hoping to combat the problem via an educational campaign before traffic increases even more during the rest of spring and summer.
“Law enforcement agencies and first responders have reported that speeding has increasingly become a factor in crashes, both in minor incidents and more serious crashes,” said Vicki Kramer, Director of the Nebraska Department of Transportation. “Just last week, the Nebraska State Patrol reported the first 100 days of 2024 as “the fastest” on record, with more than 1,300 drivers ticketed for driving 90 mph or faster.”
“This is an issue that can’t be ignored,” Kramer said. “Any speeding puts more lives at risk, which is why we partnered up to declare this week Speeding Awareness Week.”
Speed affects those outside of vehicles, too. Changes in speed can have real-life consequences for pedestrians.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, if a person is hit by a vehicle going 20 mph, there is a 10% chance of fatality. The chance of fatality increases to 40% if a vehicle is going 30 mph and then increases to an 80% chance of fatality if the vehicle’s speed is 40 mph.
Speeding, both “casual” and excessive, results in serious losses of time, money and most importantly, human life. That’s why, as part of Speeding Awareness Week, every partner agency encourages drivers to slow down and follow posted speed limits.
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