Super Speeder: AJC Letter to the Editor mattmontgomery  at:  3/6/2009   ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON THE SUPER SPEEDER LEGISLATION GOHS Director Bob Dallas weighs in on the proposed legislation.... Time to put brakes on superspeeders By Bob Dallas For the Journal-Constitution Friday, March 06, 2009 Three hundred and 84. That’s the number of Georgians killed in speed-related crashes here in 2007. That’s more than a speeding death a day. And yet, year in and year out, nearly a quarter of Georgia crash fatalities involve motorists who continue to drive at excessive deadly speeds. That’s why Gov. Sonny Perdue designed the “superspeeder” legislation for Georgia: to save precious lives by targeting the worst of the worst of our speeders. They’re the violators who rocket along in excess of 85 miles per hour on any road they choose. They’re the offenders who fly by at 75 on your hometown, two-lane roads. They’re rolling tragedies, out cruising in search of another memorial roadside cross in your community. Under superspeeder, these high-risk drivers would be hit with a $200 fine designed to change their high-risk behavior. High-risk drivers who have their licenses suspended for excessive points would face higher reinstatement fees and safe driver course requirements. Some critics claim superspeeder legislation is a revenue generator. And for the first time, those critics are right. These fees will help fund Georgia’s trauma care network. Because, in fact, 60 percent of trauma care in Georgia is provided to victims of vehicle crashes. Now those who place this burden on Georgia’s trauma care network will for the first time help shoulder that cost. Some drivers believe their high-risk, high-speed driving causes no harm. They’re not just wrong, they’re dead wrong. Here’s why: For every 10 mph increase in speed, there’s a doubling of energy release when a crash occurs. And the faster we drive, the more our reaction time is reduced. So, we may ignore the laws of the road but we can’t ignore the laws of physics. It’s a fact that superspeeders cause more deaths and serious injuries on our roadways. If you’ve spent any time driving in Georgia, you instinctively know we have a speeding problem. Strangely enough, slowing down actually helps us all get to our destinations quicker! About half of all metro congestion is caused by crashes. The more severe the crash, the longer it takes to clear the roads. Slowing down helps all Georgians save time and money while driving. Independent studies by groups like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety prove that speeding in Georgia is a deadly concern. The governor’s superspeeder legislation will save lives and reduce serious injury on Georgia roadways. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of careful Georgia drivers who follow the law, there are at least 384 families in Georgia every year who would agree that we need superspeeder legislation to help us all slow down and save lives. Bob Dallas is director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. http://www.ajc.com/search/content/printedition/2009/03/06/dallased0306.html?cxntlid=inform_sr TO VIEW OTHER GOHS NEWS ITEMS, CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE GOHS HOME PAGE, CLICK HERE