Well, it’s official. Drivers aren’t totally oblivious to the fact that speeding is a problem and is a main factor in causing car accidents.

A study released in late 2013 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that nearly half of all motorists admitted that speeding is a problem nationwide. Curiously, one in five drivers also noted on the survey “I try to get where I am going as fast as I can.”

Speed can play an important role in determining who is at fault in a car or truck accident and it’s a factor that an accident lawyer like the professionals at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP will take into consideration when examining a case.

The study, a National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behavior, marks an interesting parallel as motorists appear to be aware that speeding is an issue — that can either turn very costly, very deadly or both — but drivers still will speed in traffic. Statistics say that nearly one third of all traffic deaths are due to speed and the death toll is around 10,000 people per year.

Most drivers believe reducing speed can help avoid car wrecks or other dangerous situations. However, more than 25 percent of drivers surveyed reportedly noted “I enjoy the feeling of driving fast” and “speeding is something I do without thinking,” the NHTSA reported. Even further troubling is the statement “driving over the speed limit is not dangerous for skilled drivers,” which 16 percent of those surveyed agreed with, according to the NHTSA.

Other data showed males admitted to speeding more than females and drivers ages 15 to 20, the least experienced, admitted to speeding more than other drivers. What the data shows is that the attitudes surrounding speeding needs to change for some drivers if speed-related car wrecks are ever going to decrease.