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Attitudes and behaviors about speeding

Public attitudes | Changing behaviors

Public attitudes about speeding

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration:

• 60% of Americans think that compared to ten years ago, people today drive less safely.
• 72% feel that they are more likely to be a victim of a serious motor vehicle crash than a violent crime.
• 95% believe that most crashes are caused by driver error, rather than vehicle failures.

Even in an era when people want less government, they still say the government should play a major role in keeping roads safe. Eighty percent in one survey agreed that the number of serious injuries in motor vehicle crashes could be reduced through more public education in areas from general driver education, to reducing speeding, and impaired driving.

Changing speeding behaviors

The May 2001 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Status Report states that ".. the effective [crash reduction] programs are the ones that combine education with traffic law enforcement. This combination is the key to changing driver behaviors."

In Wisconsin we utilize the combination of Education, Enforcement, Empowerment, Engineering and Evaluation in speed related crash reduction efforts. These 5 E's strategies make up a comprehensive approach to reducing fatalities and injuries from motor vehicle crashes. It is every driver's responsibility to obey the traffic laws and to be sure all passengers are safely seated and belted. In doing so you will reduce the risk of serious injury or death if you are involved in a speed-related crash.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Patricia Hansen, patricia.hansen@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: March 8, 2005