Safety Matters BUlletin
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Speeding is a deliberate and calculated behavior where the driver knows the risk but ignores the danger. Speeding has been a factor in nearly 1/3 of U.S. crash deaths every year. Speeding isn’t just going faster than the posted limit. Anytime you drive too fast for the road and/or weather conditions, you’re speeding. Speeding itself is dangerous, and, when combined with other poor driver behaviors, is exponentially more so.  1. Under the best conditions, the average time it takes most drivers to react to a risky situation on the road is 1.5 seconds. A driver who is fatigued, distracted, or impaired by drugs or alcohol may take as long as 3 or more critical seconds to react. 2. As your speed increases, so does the distance you travel while your brain is processing and reacting to information it’s receiving, and this means the distance you need to stop is also increasing.  3. Speeding increases your risk of losing vehicle control. At higher speeds, motor vehicles become more difficult to maneuver—especially on corners or curves or where evasive action is necessary. 4. There is a direct correlation between speed and the severity of a crash. The higher the speed, the greater the energy that must be absorbed by the impact in a crash.  5. The effectiveness of safety devices like air bags and seat belts as well as features such as crumple zones and side member beams decline as impact speed increases. 6. Drivers are twice as likely to kill a pedestrian on impact if they are traveling at 30 mph (50 km/h) than if they are traveling at 25 mph (40 km/h).  7. In urban areas, exceeding the speed limit by as little as 3 mph (5 km/h) doubles the likelihood of an injury crash and each additional increase in speed by 3 mph (5 km/h) further doubles the risk. 8. Speeding can be very expensive. In addition to speeding ticket fines, the prospect of higher insurance premiums can turn into a lasting financial burden. Depending on severity and driving history, some may face a license suspension, criminal record, or even the loss of their job. “Speed is a KNOWN QUANTITY, because it’s always in front of you.” The more aware you are of your driving, the less likely you’ll be involved in a situation requiring superior skill to avoid a collision. Safe driving, today and every day.
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