BOISE – With long, sunny days and plenty of warm weather on the horizon, drivers may be tempted to travel at high speeds that put themselves and others at risk. AAA is asking drivers to ‘slow your roll’ to prevent death and serious injury from speeding.
“You may have plenty of traction and visibility on the road, but if you speed, you still have to face the laws of physics – you might not have enough stopping distance to prevent a crash, and you certainly increase your chances of an overturned vehicle while making a turn,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “Technological advancements are a big help, but they can’t take the place of a responsible driver.”
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, aggressive driving (including speeding) was a contributing factor in half of all Idaho crashes in 2023. Nearly 100 people were killed or seriously injured due to excessive speed – that’s a 21.5% increase from the previous year.
“Speed limits exist for a reason – engineers have done the research to make an informed recommendation under ideal conditions,” Conde said. “We also need to emphasize the importance of everyone wearing a seat belt. No one can anticipate every risk on the road, and this basic piece of safety equipment could make all the difference.”
AAA recommends leaving early for your destination to avoid the temptation to speed.