Preventing Auto Accidents by Following the Speed Limit in the Greater Tampa, Florida Area

As you drive in the Tampa, Florida area, you will notice a wide range of speed limits. Residential streets will require you to drive 25 or 30 miles per hour, while major thoroughfares like I-275, US 19, and I-75 will allow you to go 55 to 70 miles per hour.

Government entities analyze several factors when setting speed limits. Some of these factors include the design of the road, intersections, roadway features, traffic, crash history in the area, and the comfort level of drivers.

Statistics and studies show us that, the faster vehicles travel, the greater the risk for an accident. Not only does speed increase the risk of accidents, but it also increases the chance of serious injuries and deaths should an accident occur. When setting speed limits, the Department of Transportation balances these risk factors with the public's need to reach destinations quickly and efficiently.

Following the speed limit does not guarantee that an accident will not happen, but it does give you a better chance of preventing an accident in the following ways:

• Lower speeds give you more time to react to unforeseen situations and avoid a collision.
• Other drivers on the road expect you to travel the speed limit and will model their driving behavior on that assumption.
• Vehicles are designed to perform best at legal speeds. By exceeding the speed limit, you may also exceed your vehicle's ability to keep you safe.
• Roadways are engineered to carry vehicles traveling at designated speeds.

It is estimated that 90 percent of us speed at one time or another in our lives. Speeders come in all age groups and drive every type of vehicle, from sports cars to SUVs and compacts to sedans. This is why it pays to keep a watchful eye around your vehicle and practice smart defensive driving techniques.

Tampa auto accident attorney Dale Appell, P.A. encourages everyone to follow the speed limit and drive carefully. If you have been injured by a speeding driver in the Tampa, Florida area, please call our law firm for compassionate, personalized assistance.