As drivers, we all seem to be in a hurry most of the time. Demands on our time dictate that we don’t want to waste time driving from A to B, so, we speed — ALL drivers speed if not most of the time, at least sometimes.

Drivers want to save time, and local transportation agencies want to improve traffic flow, but at what cost? With posted speed limits increasing on roadways around the country, a vehicle’s ability to protect drivers in crashes is in doubt. In the February issue of Status Report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), small speed increases can have huge effects on crash outcomes, as shown in new crash tests by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, IIHS and Humanetics. The safety organizations conducted crashes at three different impact speeds (40, 50 and 56 mph). They found the slightly higher speeds were enough to increase the driver’s risk of severe injury or death.

Drivers often travel faster than posted speed limits, but when officials raise limits to match travel speeds, people still go faster. Today, 41 states allow speeds of 70 mph or higher on some roadways. Of those, eight states have maximum speeds of 80 mph or more. Although the statutory speed limit in NYS is 55 mph, the maximum limit on interstate highways is 65 mph, but for how long? AAA and IIHS urge policymakers to factor in this danger from higher speeds when considering speed limit changes. Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, says “A speeding driver may arrive at their destination a few minutes faster, but is the trade-off of getting severely injured or even losing one’s life worth it if a crash occurs?”

“Higher speed limits cancel out the benefits of vehicle safety improvements like airbags and improved structural designs,” says Dr. David Harkey, IIHS president. “The faster a driver is going before a crash, the less likely it is that they’ll be able to get down to a survivable speed even if they have a chance to brake before impact.”

In crash tests performed by the safety organizations, as the crash speed increased in the tests, researchers found more structural damage and greater forces on the dummy’s entire body. At the 40 mph impact speed, there was minimal intrusion into the driver’s space. But at the 50 mph impact speed, there was noticeable deformation of the driver side door opening, dashboard and foot area. At 56 mph, the vehicle interior was significantly compromised, with the dummy’s sensors registering severe neck injuries and a likelihood of fractures to the long bones in the lower leg.

At both 50 and 56 mph, the steering wheel’s upward movement caused the dummy’s head to go through the deployed airbag. This caused the face to smash into the steering wheel. Measurements taken from the dummy showed a high risk of facial fractures and severe brain injury. “Cars are safer than they’ve ever been, but nobody’s figured out how to make them defy the laws of physics,” says Harkey of IIHS.

“Rather than raising speed limits, states should vigorously enforce the limits they have. This includes using proven countermeasures like high-visibility enforcement and carefully implemented speed-camera programs to consistently and equitably enforce speed limits 24/7.” It would also help if drivers understood the physics of speed and drove slower. Besides safety, other benefits include less aggravation, less chance of a speeding ticket, all for a few minutes longer drive. Try it — you might like it!