Roadside chat - Lead foot is a curable disease. Slow down
We’ve all been very aware of the health issues swirling around the world related to COVID-19, but with so much of the attention being placed on the pandemic, we can’t forget that there are other public health issues out there, as well.
Obviously “lead foot” isn’t a real disease, but it is a mindset that can be cured. The bottom line is that speeding to get where you’re going quicker doesn’t justify the risk you pose to yourself and those on the road around you.
Since January 2020, law enforcement agencies have seen a startling increase in drivers greatly exceeding the speed limit. From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2020, Iowa State Patrol reported:
- 74% increase in drivers exceeding the speed limit by 25 mph or more.
- 1,497 drivers were cited for speeds that exceeded 100 mph.
- 108% increase in these speed violations compared to the four-year average.
Crash tests reveal the dangers of speeding – https://youtu.be/71xuU9y-iwM
So far in 2021, there have been 228 deaths in traffic crashes. That is an increase of 13 since last Friday. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf