April 22, 2024 (Lincoln, Neb.) — The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) in taking a stand against speeding. Agencies and organizations across the state are asking motorists to watch their speed by joining their voices together in a public education campaign to emphasize how following posted speed limits is critical to driver, passenger, pedestrian and cyclist safety. Beginning April 22, 2024, you’ll be seeing messages related to “Speeding Awareness Week” on social media and dynamic message signs throughout the state. As traffic volumes continue to grow, speeding has become a serious issue. These two factors, speeding and high volumes, have resulted in a staggering number of speeding tickets. Because excessive speeding is an issue across the country, area agencies are hoping to combat the problem via an educational campaign before traffic volumes increase even more during the spring and summer months. “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 over 1,300 drivers being ticketed for driving 90 mph or more. This is an issue that can’t be ignored. Any speeding puts more lives at risk, which is why we partnered up to declare this week Speeding Awareness Week.”
Speed impacts 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 miles per hour (mph), there is a 10 percent chance of fatality. The chance of fatality increases to 40 percent if a vehicle if going 30 mph and then increases to an 80 percent chance of fatality if the vehicle’s speed is at 40 mph. Speeding, both “casual” and excessive, results in serious losses of time, money but – most importantly – human life. That’s why, as part of Speeding Awareness Week, every partner agency encourages drivers to slow down and follow the posted speed limit on roads.
