Everyone has experienced a police car racing past them, either to respond to a call or to catch another speeding driver. You may have asked yourself, "Is that safe?" Just as it is unsafe for a citizen, an officer speeding through traffic can also be dangerous. Drivers in Pennsylvania and nationwide are all potential victims of reckless police drivers.

Any speeding drivers are a threat and can result in motor vehicle accidents and serious injury to others on the road. An investigation in Florida has found that cops drive between 90 and 130 miles per hour on state highways. Many of these officers were found speeding, even when there was no emergency. Often, there were incidences of speeding while the officers were on their way to or from work.

A car accident in 2008 caused by a reckless cop left a 23-year-old paralyzed and brain dead when he was rear-ended at a red light. Accident reports indicated that the officer was driving over 100 miles per hour, throwing the victim's Honda more than 250 feet. The victim of this accident will be left needing supervised care for the rest of his life. In addition to the personal losses suffered by the victim and his family, they will also be left with significant financial obligations.

This accident involved a speeding officer who was not responding to an emergency call. There were no flashing lights or siren to warn other drivers. While the police officer was cited for lack of due care and not wearing a seatbelt, he was not criminal charged and was not held personally liable for the injuries. The family did, however, recover a $2 million settlement from the State of Florida.

While there is no national data on police speeding, this investigation has sparked an interest in police driving records. A 2011 Department of Transportation report shows that "nothing kills police more than car crashes," indicating that both citizens and officers are endangered by police speeding.

CBS News, "Extreme Police Speeding Investigated in Florida," Mark Strassman, March 20, 2012.