Built for speed Published July 16, 2013 By Tech. Sgt. James Fountain 17th Training Wing Safety Office GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Week 8 of the Critical Days of Summer Safety Campaign has arrived and the focus is on speeding while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed is involved in about one out of every three fatal crashes. It is the third leading contributing factor to vehicle mishaps. While injuries and fatalities due to other dangerous behaviors, such as driving while impaired and not wearing seatbelts, have been significantly reduced, speeding has not. Speeding is the most common traffic-law violation. How much time is really saved by speeding? Speeding has consequences, which can be in the form of ticket prices and vehicle mishaps. Check out the time it takes to make a 30-mile trip at different speeds: 55 miles per hour = 32.7 minutes 65 miles per hour = 27.7 minutes (5 minutes saved) 75 miles per hour = 24 minutes (8.7 minutes saved) According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States: · Every 16 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash on U.S. roads. · Motor vehicle crashes are the leading causes of death in the first three decades of Americans' lives · Every day, eight teens die in a crash · In one year alone, motor vehicle crashes cost American's $99 billion in medical care, rehabilitation, and lost wages. In the first seven weeks of the CDOS Campaign, the 17th TRW has experienced a 45 percent decrease in mishaps compared to the seven weeks prior to the start of the campaign, which means Goodfellow went from 70 mishaps down to 39 mishaps. Additionally, out of the mishaps that did occur, there was a 75 percent decrease in reportable mishaps. The Wing Safety Office encourages its service members to continue emphasizing risk management and sound decisions day to day. For more information contact the 17 TRW Safety Office at 325-654-3963
