Opinion ID: 2093900
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Instructions Regarding Speed

Text: Brown contends that the jury should have been instructed on how to consider the effect of his speeding. We have said that while speed alone does not support a conviction for willful reckless driving, speed does have a bearing on whether one was driving dangerously `under the surroundings and attendant circumstances of the particular case.' State v. Howard, 253 Neb. 523, 527, 571 N.W.2d 308, 313 (1997), quoting State v. DiLorenzo, 181 Neb. 59, 146 N.W.2d 791 (1966). We have generally utilized this proposition of law using the terminology of willful reckless driving, which is proscribed by Neb.Rev.Stat. § 60-6,214 (Reissue 1998). The instant case concerns reckless driving under § 60-6,213 rather than willful reckless driving pursuant to § 60-6,214. However, although we state the proposition as applying to willful reckless driving, we have applied it in a case involving reckless driving under § 60-6,213. See State v. Howard, supra . In the instant case, the State presented evidence that Brown had made several lane changes prior to the accident and was not only driving over the posted speed limit, but was doing so in an area of moderate-to-heavy traffic. Thus, the speed at which Brown was traveling was introduced as one piece of evidence for the purpose of proving that he drove in such a manner as to indicate an indifferent or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Under such circumstances, the trial court was correct in refusing to instruct on the effect that speed alone has on reckless driving. As an alternative, Brown requested an instruction that speed has a bearing on whether one was driving dangerously under the circumstances. However, the jury was already instructed to consider whether Brown was engaged in an unlawful operation of his vehicle and whether such unlawful operation consisted of driving in a manner as to indicate an indifferent or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The fact that Brown was driving over the speed limit did not need to be further pointed out to the jury in order for them to consider it. Thus, the failure to give Brown's requested alternate instruction was not error.