3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Speed According to Science

1. Because you don't get to make up the speed limit

Speed limits are determined through analysis of how cars react, therefore making up your own judgement about how much faster you think you should be able to go is extremely dangerous.

2. Because driving conditions can change at any moment

Whether environmental or situational, driving conditions can change while you're on the road. A sudden storm can hit or the car in front of you can slow down unexpectedly. If you're speeding, you won't have time to react.

3. Because the faster you drive, the longer it takes to stop

The faster you drive, the longer it takes you to stop. This means that the likelihood of having a collision and the degree of damage caused both increase the faster you go.

please like

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the first three decades of American’s lives. In 2009 alone, crashes killed over 33,000 people and injured another 2.2 million—more than 70% of these were in passenger vehicles and trucks.
^{https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/seatbeltbrief/index.html} 

Speeding was a factor in the deaths of 857 people over five years 2006-2010. In addition to those killed, more than 4100 people are injured in speed-related crashes every year.

Did you know each year around 700,000 speeding offences are recorded in NSW?

Males in particular are the campaigns primary focus, as they are over represented in speed-related crashes in NSW.

When a vehicle is detected speeding by a speed camera, an infringement notice is issued to the registered operator of the vehicle. If the vehicle is jointly registered, the infringement notice is issued to the operator whose name is listed first. The notice provides details of the alleged offence and includes a photograph.
Speeding is one of the major causes of fatalities on Queensland roads. Speeding is defined as driving over the posted speed limit or at a speed that is inappropriate for the driving conditions (e.g. rain, fog, traffic volume, traffic flow).

During 2017 there were 50 fatalities as a result of crashes involving speeding motorists, representing approximately 20% of the Queensland Road Toll.

The speed limit in built-up areas in Queensland is 50km/h unless otherwise indicated by signs.

A ‘local street’ or ‘built-up area’ has access to private property and/or limited neighbourhood traffic movement. Some industrial and commercial areas also have local streets.

Roads that carry traffic through suburbs and across towns have a speed limit of 60km/h or higher. The speed limit on these roads is clearly signed.

Find out more about what Queensland’s traffic signs mean.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads and local governments set speed limits in Queensland within strict guidelines to ensure limits are consistent and credible.

These factors are considered when determining speed limits:

A speed limit may be lowered on a hazardous section of road if it is believed it will help reduce the number of crashes. 

Speeding is defined as driving at a speed higher than the posted speed limit or at a speed that is inappropriate to the driving conditions (such as rain, fog, traffic volume, traffic flow).

Speeding consequences include:

Visit road toll statistics to find out more information on Queensland’s road crash data.

Speed limits are set and enforced to reduce crashes and save lives. Fines and demerit points apply when a person is caught driving a vehicle above the posted speed limit.  

It is not safe to speed in any circumstance.

Driving within the speed limit maximises your stopping distance, giving you more time to react to:

Aside from the tragedy of road deaths, road crashes result in high costs to the community in the forms of:

Speed-related fatalities and hospitalised casualties in Queensland have an estimated cost of $3.2 billion each year†‡.

The speed limit in built-up areas in Queensland is 50km/h unless otherwise indicated by signs.

Roadworks are necessary to build new roads and keep our existing roads safe however, roadwork sites can be dangerous. You need to take extra care when driving through roadworks, this is for your safety and the safety of the road workers who are improving our roads.

Road workers are our friends, our family, and our colleagues and work in one of the most dangerous and vulnerable workplaces you could imagine. They deserve to have a safe workplace. 

Find more information about road safety research projects and activities run by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The notice provides the registered operator with 28 days to pay the fine, elect to go to court, or nominate the driver of the vehicle. If you are the registered operator and you pay the fine, demerit points will be accrued against your driver licence.

Fines and demerit points for speeding offences detected by a camera are the same as for other speeding tickets.
The simple truth about speeding is: the faster you go, the longer it takes to stop and, if you crash, the harder the impact. Even small increases in speed could have severe consequences. If a pedestrian steps out into the path of an oncoming vehicle which is speeding the difference could be a matter of life or death.The stopping distances on the infograph are calculated based on the following assumptions:

The stopping distances in the graph are generic and may be influenced by a number of driver, vehicle and environmental factors:

Driver factorsVehicle factorsEnvironmental factorsAttention | Vehicle age | Road surface
Fatigue | Type and condition of brakes | Road gradient
Impairment due to alcohol and 🤬 | Type and condition of  tyres, including tyre pressure | Road alignment
Vision issues | Safety features fitted to  the vehicle for example ABS, ESC, EBA, etc. | Weather conditions
Driver age and experience | Vehicle weight |  
Hazard perception ability | Towing a trailer or  carrying a heavy loadIn an emergency, the average driver takes about 1.5 seconds to react. Stopping  distances increase exponentially the faster you go.

please like

1. Because you don't get to make up the speed limit

Speed limits are determined through analysis of how cars react, therefore making up your own judgement about how much faster you think you should be able to go is extremely dangerous.

2. Because driving conditions can change at any moment

Whether environmental or situational, driving conditions can change while you're on the road. A sudden storm can hit or the car in front of you can slow down unexpectedly. If you're speeding, you won't have time to react.

3. Because the faster you drive, the longer it takes to stop

The faster you drive, the longer it takes you to stop. This means that the likelihood of having a collision and the degree of damage caused both increase the faster you go.

For more information on road safety, read our post about driving distractions you didn't think were distracting.

 https://www.youi.com.au/youi-news/3-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-speed-according-to-science