What is a common factor contributing to traffic crashes?

Exceeding the posted speed limit is a significant factor contributing to traffic crashes for several reasons. When drivers go faster than the legal limit, they have less time to react to unexpected situations, such as sudden stops by other vehicles, pedestrians crossing the road, or obstacles in the roadway. This reduced reaction time can lead to serious accidents, as the likelihood of losing control of the vehicle increases with higher speeds.

Additionally, speeding often magnifies the severity of collisions if they do occur. The force of impact is proportional to the speed of the vehicle, meaning that higher speeds can lead to more serious injuries or fatalities in crashes. Furthermore, driving at excessive speeds increases the likelihood of engaging in aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating or weaving through traffic, which further raises the risk of an accident.

While the other factors mentioned—steering with one hand, driving with headlights off at night, and listening to loud music—can contribute to distractions and impair a driver's ability to operate a vehicle safely, exceeding the speed limit is consistently recognized as a more direct and prevalent cause of traffic collisions.