WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes that speeding, both exceeding the posted limit and driving too fast for conditions, is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes; and

WHEREAS, speed is a factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, killing 12,480 Americans and injuring over 583,000 people a year; and

WHEREAS, the economic cost to society of speed-related crashes is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at more than $23 billion per year; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, 88 percent of speed-related fatalities occurred on non-interstate highways; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, 44 percent of intoxicated drivers with a BAC of 0.1 or greater involved in fatal crashes were speeding; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, 65 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes were not using safety belts; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), duly assembled at its 103rd annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, encourages state and local jurisdictions to set reasonable speed limits based on the actual danger of speed to safe travel, and with consideration given to a multi-disciplinary review of highway design, highway use, traffic safety, and other appropriate factors; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP encourages all law enforcement agencies to conduct strict speed enforcement initiatives, supported with focused public information, to reduce speed-related crashes, fatalities and injuries; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP join with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the General Accounting Office, and other national and international safety groups in encouraging the passage of state primary safety belt use laws and in achieving increased safety belt use; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP supports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) efforts to promote speed enforcement to improve traffic safety, and to educate the public on the dangers of speed.