Lower Speed Limits in Long Beach—Legal Implications and Considerations
Accident rates in Southern California are higher than they’ve been in years, and authorities are doing what they can to protect drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. One measure that has started to roll out in Long Beach is lower speed limits across much of the city. Opinions on this are mixed, with pedestrians and bicyclists applauding the efforts and drivers claiming that traffic will be even worse now. Regardless of where you fall on this issue, it’s important to know when your area will be affected and how decreased speed limits could affect any accident claim you have in the future. The team at the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates is here to help Long Beach accident victims fight for justice after a crash. Call us at 562-216-2944 to talk to our team now.
A large body of research does support the idea that lower speed limits lead to fewer accidents. This research takes into account the fact that most drivers don’t drive the speed limit; however, they do limit how much they drive above it. People often feel comfortable driving five to seven miles per hour above the speed limit, fearing a ticket if they go any faster. So even if lower speed limits don’t cause people to adhere to the speed limit, they do lead to an overall decrease in speed. When someone is driving at a lower speed, they can stop more quickly if someone crosses in front of them or there’s a sudden change in traffic.
Lower Speed Limits Throughout Long Beach
In September 2023, the city announced a decrease in speed limits across more than 100 Long Beach streets. In total, these changes affect 92 miles of roadway. Fifty stretches of road will now have speed limits of 20 miles per hour or less. The goal of this is to make the roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. These roads were selected because they are already heavily used by bicyclists or pedestrians, or because they are conveniently located for this population. City representatives note that they hope to encourage more walking and biking by decreasing speed limits.
A Slow Phase-In is Necessary
However, it’s important to note that research doesn’t necessarily support an ever-decreasing speed limit. Research out of Penn State indicates that while a five-mile-per-hour decrease leads to fewer injuries and fatalities, a decrease of ten miles per hour has the opposite effect. Researchers claim that drivers simply stop paying attention to the drastic decrease at that point and do not change their driving habits at all.
That’s likely part of why Long Beach is rolling out these changes slowly, rather than hitting the city with hundreds of speed limit changes all at once. By changing the city’s speed limits gradually, they make it easier for drivers to adjust their routes, change their departure times, and drive more safely.
How This Affects Liability
Speeding is one of the most common causes of car accidents in the United States, and there’s a very strong link between speeding and fatal accidents. When it comes to determining liability, insurance companies and attorneys often look at citations and criminal charges related to a crash. If someone is cited for speeding, that can help the other party’s case against them. Drivers have an inherent duty to drive reasonably and take appropriate steps to keep others safe, and following the speed limit is the absolute bare minimum.
Much depends on how much someone is speeding at the time of a crash. Someone going a few miles over the speed limit will likely not even be cited. But if someone ignored the lower speed limit and was going 15 miles per hour over, that’s close to reckless driving territory. That could have a significant impact on a victim’s personal injury case against the driver.
Injured in a Crash? Contact the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates
The car accident attorney at the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates is committed to helping accident victims fight for full and fair compensation. Ready to find out what we can do for you? Get started now by contacting us online or calling us at 562-216-2944.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
