During 2015, more than 9,500 lives were lost across America in speeding-related traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – and 323 of those speeding-related fatalities occurred in the state of Virginia in 2014.

Even one life lost to speeding is one too many, and here at Kalfus & Nachman, we’re taking the safety of our citizens to the next level. That is why Kalfus & Nachman is joining NHTSA and other state and local law enforcement and highway safety leaders all across the nation to remind all drivers to Stop Speeding Before It Stops You.

NHTSA considers a crash to be speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense, or if the responding officer indicated that the driver was driving too fast for conditions at the time or was exceeding the posted speed limit. In 2015, speeding was a contributing factor in 27 percent of all fatal crashes.

In Virginia 14,052 persons were injured in speed-related crashes, a 5.04 percent increase from 2014: Nationally in 2015, 85 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occurred on non-Interstate roadways -- where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or less. According to NHTSA, a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. Only 15 percent of the nation’s speeding-related fatalities occurred on Interstate highways that year.

Because of this, Kalfus & Nachman is determined to help save lives by reminding all drivers to stay alerted, to watch for and then to obey all posted speed limits, especially in Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke.

Driving above the posted speed limit or speeding in dangerous weather conditions dramatically increases the chances that a motorist will be involved in a crash. Anytime drivers speed, they put themselves, their passengers, and other drivers and pedestrians at tremendous risk.

Speeding greatly reduces the driver’s ability to slow a vehicle when necessary or to steer safely around an unexpected curve, another vehicle or hazardous object in the roadway. In school zones or neighborhoods, the driver can strike a child or animal running across the road.

Our goal is to save lives. Please remember there is a reason for posted speed limits. The roadways are dangerous, and speed limits are designed to protect everyone – drivers, passengers, pedestrians – everyone! The next time you get behind the wheel, please remember to Stop Speeding Before It Stops You.

For more information please visit http://trafficsafetymarketing.gov/.