FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2017
Contact: Kara Macek, kmacek@ghsa.org
202-789-0942 x140
Speeding is often a forgotten issue
Statement for attribution to Jonathan Adkins, GHSA Executive Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) thanks the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for studying and evaluating approaches to reduce speeding-related traffic crashes and raising awareness of this critical safety issue. Speeding is a factor in approximately the same proportion of traffic fatalities as alcohol impairment (27% and 29%, respectively, in 2015), yet it is not subject to same social stigma as drunk driving and is often a forgotten highway safety problem despite its clear significance.
This NTSB action should spur responses at the national, state and local levels to prioritize addressing excessive vehicle speeds along with other pressing traffic safety problems. National leaders must come together to develop best practices and programs to deter drivers from speeding and prevent the crashes, injuries and fatalities that too often result.
We know from experience that sustained, high visibility enforcement efforts – including automated speed enforcement – coupled with strong public awareness campaigns can truly make a difference. GHSA urges law enforcement leaders across the country to ramp up speeding enforcement to help protect the citizens they serve. GHSA calls for a national speeding enforcement campaign similar to Click It or Ticket and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over to bring this issue on par with seat belt use and drunk driving prevention.
Addressing speeding-related deaths must be a centerpiece of any national effort to reduce all roadway fatalities. We look forward to working with our partners to continue to elevate the issue of speeding and, ultimately, influence drivers’ decisions to slow down and save lives.
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About GHSA
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GHSAhq or follow us on Twitter @GHSAHQ.