The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the New Rochelle Police Department are teaming up to keep drivers and passengers safe, raising awareness of the risks of speeding and reminding them to obey speed limits. In 2020, more than one quarter of all crash fatalities were speeding-related, and there was a dramatic increase (17%) in speeding-related crash fatalities from 2019-2020. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together August 14-21 to take speeding drivers off the roads.

In 2020, there were 11,258 people killed in speeding-related crashes, accounting for 29% of all fatal crashes in the United States. Much like impaired driving, speeding is a selfish choice that can have deadly consequences for the driver, vehicle passenger, and pedestrians. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. A speeding driver also affects stopping distances: as speed increases, so do the odds of a vehicle crash. Even the safest cars with the newest technologies are limited in how much they can help reduce the odds of a crash.

According to NHTSA, local roads are more dangerous than highways for speeders. In 2020, 87% of all speeding-related traffic fatalities on American roads occurred on non-interstate roadways.

“Speeding is a choice that drivers make, and this decision can have deadly consequences for the driver, their passenger and pedestrians," said Det. Sgt. Myron Joseph of the Departments Traffic Unit. “During this campaign, officers will increase efforts to help remind drivers to slow down and obey the posted limit. If we see you speeding, you will be pulled over and fined.”

Young people and motorcyclists are especially susceptible to high speeds, and they represent the largest demographic involved in speeding-related vehicle crashes. In 2020, 30% of male drivers ages 18-34 and 17% of female drivers ages 18-34 involved in fatal crashes in 2020 were speeding.

Alcohol and weather also increase the likelihood of a crash while speeding. In 2020, 37% of the drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding and had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, compared to 17% of non-speeding drivers. And the chances of a vehicle crash on wet roads increases drastically when a vehicle is speeding.

"We are asking our community to please slow down and obey the posted signs," Det. Sgt. Joseph concluded. "Our goal is to save lives and we're putting all drivers on alert- the posted speed limit is the law. No excuses."

For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding.