Speeding is just like any other habit. The more you speed and don't get caught, the more likely you are to continue speeding. Whether you're in the habit of justifying speeding with the "5 mph over myth“ or you're a bit of a gambler who likes to play the odds, sooner or later you'll probably pay for your bad driving habits. But the fines and points and long-term costs are only part of the deal. Speeding endangers everyone on the road. In 2017, speeding killed 9,717 people, accounting for more than a quarter (26%) of all traffic fatalities that year. Speeding has consequences that go beyond breaking the law: • Greater chance of losing control of your vehicle • Safety features such as seatbelts and airbags will be less effective • Increased stopping distance • Potential for more severe damage to your vehicle, yourself and your passengers in an accident • Increased short and long-term expenses for your vehicle and medical costs • Increased fuel consumption and fuel costs And these consequences can be even more severe with teen drivers, driving in bad weather, distracted driving like using smartphones, drinking alcohol and other factors. Simply put, speeding increases the dangers for everyone on the road.
What to Do if You Get Pulled Over for Speeding
Before you even get behind the wheel of a car, you should know what to expect if you ever get pulled over for a traffic violation. While common sense would seem to dictate how a driver should behave when they get pulled over, such as keeping their hands in plain sight, complying with requests, and other behaviors, that doesn’t seem to be the case often enough. Spelling out how drivers, and officers, should act in these situations will go a long way towards keeping everyone informed and safe. The newest guidelines, accessible in the North Carolina Driver Handbook, are designed to clarify not only how a driver should respond, but also what to expect from law enforcement and why. Knowing how to respond to being pulled over, what your rights are and other factors can positively impact the charges filed and the consequences if convicted.
What Happens After You Get a Speeding Ticket?
For most speeding tickets, you can go to court, plead guilty and pay your fees and fines. Depending on your driving record, this may not be your best option. When you plead guilty to a speeding violation, you will acquire points on your license and your insurance rates will increase. If you have other points on your license, a simple speeding ticket could result in losing your license and even higher court and insurance costs. Even if you have a clean driving record, there are a lot of positives of getting an experienced attorney to handle your ticket. Don't risk things getting out of hand because of a speeding ticket. There are too many variables with points, insurance and other factors that could land you in more hot water than you expected. An experienced traffic attorney can help you minimize the impact of your speeding ticket, have the charges reduced and even get your case dismissed under certain circumstances. Call The Law Offices of Jason H. Reece in Charlotte at 704-714-8888 or fill out this contact form for a free consultation.
