The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program Reminds Drivers: Slow Down and Obey the Speed Limit

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) reminds drivers to slow down and obey the speed limit ahead of a statewide high visibility enforcement (HVE) period that will begin with a kickoff enforcement event on September 6 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., to be conducted by law enforcement agencies statewide. The targeted enforcement will continue through Sept. 22.

In 2022, there were 12,151 fatalities in speeding-related crashes, accounting for 29% of total traffic fatalities. The same year resulted in a decrease of fatalities of 2.8% from 12,498 in 2021. Young drivers and motorcyclists are especially susceptible to high speeds, and they represent the largest demographic involved in speeding-related vehicle crashes. In 2022, 35% of male drivers and 19% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes were speeding. Thirty-five percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2022 were speeding. Motorcycle riders 21 to 24 years old involved in fatal crashes had the highest speeding involvement at 51%. In West Virginia in 2022, 27% of all crash fatalities were speed-related, and 16% of all crash fatalities were motorcyclists.

“Speed limit signs are not suggestions, they are the law,” said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP. “They are posted for the safety of the driver and others in that particular area. Unfortunately, law enforcement sees people speeding every day, especially young men. If you’re killed in a crash, or if you kill someone else, that’s it – there’s no second chance. Speeding just isn’t worth the risk,” concluded McNeely.

Much like impaired driving, speeding is a selfish choice that has deadly consequences for the driver, vehicle passenger, and others using the road. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. Even the safest cars with the newest technologies are limited in how much they can help reduce the odds of a crash.

According to NHTSA, local roads are more dangerous than highways for speeders. It’s a common misconception that speeding is an interstate-related issue: In fact, in 2022, 87% of all US speeding-related traffic fatalities occurred on routes other than interstates.

“We are asking drivers to please slow down, our goal is to save lives, and we’re putting all drivers on alert — the posted speed limit is the law. No excuses,” said McNeely.

Learn more about the dangers of speeding at www.nhtsa.gov/risky- driving/speeding . For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.

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