Speeding is a leading factor in traffic accidents across North Carolina. When drivers go too fast for road conditions or fail to slow down in time, serious collisions and injuries can result. Police often issue citations for either “failure to reduce speed” or “exceeding safe speed”—but what’s the difference? The distinction can affect your personal injury claim.
Why Speed-Related Violations Matter After an Accident
After a crash occurs, investigators and insurance companies review whether speed played a role. A driver’s actions before impact often determine who is legally responsible for damages. If a citation for failure to reduce speed or exceeding safe speed appears on the police report, it will likely influence liability discussions.
North Carolina is a contributory negligence state. This law says that if a driver is found even slightly at fault, they will not be able to recover compensation from another party. In other words, speed-related violations are critical. If your speeding contributed to the accident, you won’t be able to recover any compensation for your injuries. However, if the other driver was speeding and you were obeying all traffic laws, your personal injury attorney will use that as evidence of fault.
What “Failure to Reduce Speed” Means in North Carolina
Failure to reduce speed is a common traffic charge. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141(m), a driver must “decrease speed as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway, and to avoid injury to any person or property.”
In short, the law requires you to adjust your speed to fit the current conditions. For example, you should reduce your speed when approaching and crossing intersections, driving on a narrow or winding roadway, going around a curve, cresting a hill, or when pedestrians are present. Even if you were driving below the posted limit, you could still violate the law if you didn’t slow down enough to avoid a crash.
Drivers often receive this citation in rear-end collisions. If a car fails to stop in time at a red light and hits the vehicle in front, police may conclude the driver did not reduce speed as required.
What “Exceeding Safe Speed” Means in North Carolina
Exceeding safe speed is slightly different. While failure to reduce speed focuses on a driver not slowing down when conditions require it, exceeding safe speed typically refers to going above a reasonable speed under existing circumstances.
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-141(a), no one may drive at a speed greater than is “reasonable and prudent” under the conditions at the time. That means that even if the posted speed limit is 55 mph, driving at that speed could violate the law if weather, traffic, or road conditions make it unsafe.
For example, imagine a driver going the speed limit during heavy rain, icy conditions, or thick fog. If the conditions are bad enough, the driver could still be cited for exceeding safe speed. Unlike a basic speeding ticket, this charge doesn’t always involve breaking the posted speed limit. The law depends on a driver’s judgment and safety.
How the Two Charges Overlap and Differ
Both violations concern how drivers should adjust their speed to match the road conditions. However, there are important distinctions:
- Failure to reduce speed applies when a driver doesn’t slow down enough in response to a hazard, regardless of whether they were speeding beforehand.
- Exceeding safe speed applies when a driver goes faster than is safe given conditions, even if they remain under the posted limit.
These two charges can overlap in certain scenarios. A driver could be cited for exceeding safe speed during heavy rain and also for failing to reduce speed when approaching backed-up traffic.
These differences matter in personal injury cases when you have to prove that someone else’s negligence caused the crash. Failure to reduce speed can indicate the driver didn’t react in time, while exceeding safe speed points to a general disregard for safety. Both can show negligence, but the specific citation will influence how your lawyer proves the other driver’s liability.
Common Accident Scenarios Involving Each Violation
Speed-related citations are found in various types of crashes. Some common situations include:
- Multi-car pileups – On highways, sudden slowdowns can lead to multiple drivers rear-ending each other. The drivers could receive citations for failure to reduce speed if they weren’t paying attention and otherwise could have stopped in time.
- Weather-related crashes – Anyone driving too fast in inclement weather may face an exceeding safe speed violation, even if they were driving under the speed limit. For example, if you’re going faster than the flow of traffic, you could be cited.
- Rear-end collisions – Drivers who hit another car from behind often receive failure-to-reduce-speed citations. Police may say that the driver didn’t leave enough space or failed to brake in time.
- Curves and hills – Drivers who lose control on curves or crests may be guilty of failing to reduce speed or exceeding safe speed.
- Intersection accidents – A driver approaching a stop sign or red light too quickly may be cited for either violation, depending on the specific circumstances.
In each of these cases, the citation serves as evidence that the driver wasn’t operating their vehicle safely. That evidence is key when insurers or juries determine fault in a personal injury lawsuit.
Contact Our North Carolina Injury Attorneys if You Need Help After a Car Accident
If you were involved in an accident where speed played a role, citations like failure to reduce speed or exceeding safe speed can affect your case. These violations will influence fault, insurance negotiations, and potential compensation for your injuries.
The Durham personal injury lawyers at Kreger Brodish have significant experience handling car accident cases, including those involving speed-related violations. When you work with us, we’ll review the details of your accident and guide you through the legal process of pursuing compensation. Car accident victims deserve fair compensation for their injuries and losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
Call us today for a free consultation with a personal injury law firm that can explain how citations affect your claim and what to expect.
