Are speed-related crashes a problem on urban as well as rural roads?
Yes. Speed-related fatal crashes affect all roadways, but the percentage varies by road type. According to NHTSA, about 36 percent of all fatal crashes on rural roads are related to speed, compared with about 30 percent on urban roads. Rural roads account for 40 percent of all vehicle miles traveled, but they account for 61 percent of all speed-related fatal crashes. Are pedestrians at risk from speeding vehicles on city streets and suburban roads? Yes. The second largest category of motor vehicle deaths, after occupants, is pedestrians, and 69 percent of pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas. The speed of vehicles involved in pedestrian impacts is a major determinant of the severity and outcome of injury. There is a much higher ratio of deaths to injuries where speed limits are higher – nine times as high where the speed limit is 55 mph as on roads where it is 30 mph or lower. A federal study of pedestrian crashes found a positive correlation between speed and injury severity. In add
