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The Facts About Speeding and Fatal Car Accidents in St. Louis, MO

Car accidents are devastating for everyone involved, especially because they are often completely preventable. Speeding and aggressive driving, both huge problems in St. Louis, often result in avoidable collisions.

Speeding was responsible for 26% of fatal car crashes nationwide in 2019, killing more than 9,478 people; to put that in perspective, it comes out to over 25 people on average per day. In 2020, speeding-related fatalities in Missouri increased by 25%.

If you or someone you love is involved in an auto accident caused by someone else’s reckless speeding, contact one of our St. Louis car accident lawyers. You deserve compensation.

But hopefully, by educating people about the dangers of speeding, we can reduce the number of speeding crashes and deaths.  

Speeding and Aggressive Driving in St. Louis

More than 40% of traffic fatalities in Missouri between 2016-2020 involved excessive speeding, and over half of the fatal car accidents involved an aggressive driver.

Missouri’s Department of Transportation has acknowledged that speeding and aggressive driving are responsible for more than twice as many fatal accidents as impaired driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as behavior by individuals who commit multiple traffic offenses that endanger themselves and others. Between 2016 to 2020, aggressive driving resulted in over 2,468 fatal accidents in Missouri and 150 fatal crashes in St. Louis.

Speeding is also a common issue on roadways, and it endangers not just the driver but others on the road, including law enforcement officers. There were 137 fatal speeding-related car accidents in St. Louis from 2016 to 2020 and 1,722 fatalities in Missouri.  

In Missouri, the proportion of fatal crashes involving speeding is higher among younger drivers. Between 2016 and 2018, 19.64% of all speeding-related fatalities were among 15-to-20-year-olds.

Drivers aged 21 to 25 had the second-highest rate of speeding-related deaths at 17.63%. Compared to these younger drivers, those over 66 accounted for just 7.59% of speeding-related fatalities.

What Steps is Missouri Taking to Reduce Speeding?

While St. Louis and Missouri have alarming statistics about speeding and aggressive driving, Missouri’s state government has taken steps to reduce fatalities. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety’s Speed Awareness Campaign advocates for the awareness and consequences of speeding and obeying speed limits.

You can be fined for speeding in the state based on how fast you’re traveling over the posted speed limit. If you go 1 to 5 miles over the speed limit, the fine is $50.50. Traveling 20 to 25 miles over the speed limit increases the fine to $155. You may also have to pay higher fines if you are caught speeding near construction zones.

How to Stay Safe When Dealing with Speeding or Aggressive Drivers

Speeding and aggressive driving can affect all road users’ safety, including pedestrians crossing the street and bicyclists sharing the road. The NHTSA and the Automotive Association of America (AAA) offers these tips if you come across speeding or aggressive drivers:

  • Be courteous and calm while driving on Missouri’s roads and highways, so you are less likely to encounter an aggressive driver or the police.
  • Give aggressive or speeding drivers plenty of room, if possible. Speeding drivers are more likely to lose control of their cars, and you want to be a safe distance away if this happens.
  • If you see someone attempting to pass you in the left lane, merge to the next lane and let them through.
  • Whenever an aggressive driver follows you or tries to engage in unsafe driving, use your judgment to position your car out of harm’s way.
  • If confronted by a speeding or aggressive driver, contact the police or drive to the nearest police station.

Seek Compensation if a Speeding or Aggressive Driver Injures You

If you or someone you know was injured because another driver was speeding or driving aggressively, it’s important to get legal help. We understand recovering from an injury is challenging, and we want to help you ensure your rights are protected under the law.

Call the car accident lawyers at Cofman Townsley today to schedule a free initial consultation, and learn more about how we can help you recover damages after a car accident.