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Wisconsin Interstate Accident Rates Increase with Speed Limit
Across the United States, speed limits on national interstates have been increasing. Wisconsin — the last upper Midwest state to up the maximum speed limit to 70 miles per hour — began to implement their increases back in mid-June. Over a four month period, there have been five more vehicle accident fatalities than there were over the same time period last year, and each month the accident rate was nearly 13% higher than the previous year. Officials are concerned about the implications, especially since we are now headed into colder months with potentially poorer driving conditions.
Reason for the Uptick in Accidents Unknown
Although it is easy to blame the increase in the number of accidents on the new speed limit, officials admit that they do not know the real reason behind it. It could be that drivers are still adjusting to the increased speed limit, or that some drivers may still be traveling at slower speeds and inadvertently creating more risk for an accident. There is also the possibility that other factors, such as distracted driving, have a role in the increase in accidents.
Increased Speeds and Its Dangers
Driving faster certainly offers the benefit of getting where you want to go faster, but it also comes with risks. You need more time to brake and react to obstacles. You are at a higher risk of losing control of your vehicle when attempting to maneuver out of a situation. And your risk for death or personal injury increases. Yet many drivers fail to account for or take preventative action to avoid these dangers. A few tips that can help include:
- Wearing your seat belt;
- Keeping your vehicle carefully maintained;
- Checking tires frequently; and
- And putting more distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you.
It should also be noted that those drivers still traveling under the speed limit pose as much of a threat as those that are driving over the speed limit. Congestion, hills, or erratic movements only further exacerbate the risk of an accident. Driving the posted speed limit may decrease your risk.
Distracted Driving Expected to Be a Factor
Even at slow speeds, distracted driving is dangerous; at high speeds, it can be downright lethal. Cell phones, food, radios, children, and pets, all pose a threat. Minimize your risk by eliminating as many of these distractions as you can. Keep pets in a crate, do not eat while driving, use steering wheel controls for radios, etc. Above all else, avoid the use of a cell phone while driving do not text, answer calls, or use any applications. No text, notification, or phone call is ever worth your life or the life of those around you.
Injured in an Accident? Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an automobile accident, you may be entitled to compensation. But because these cases are complex and insurance agents tend to diminish injuries, you should never attempt to pursue a case alone. Contact Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP, instead. Dedicated, respectful, and compassionate, our skilled Milwaukee automobile accident attorneys have been serving the Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, and Green Bay areas since 1968. For a consultation, call us at 414-271-1440 today.
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