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Speeding and Accidents: Linked
Maybe you are running late, and have a mild case of road rage. Or maybe you just love driving fast. Sooner or later, the need for speed possesses us all. But before putting the pedal to the metal, consider how speeding affects your chances of having an automobile accident.
Scientific data shows that the average driver’s reaction time is 1 1/2 seconds. Going only three miles an hour over the speed limit nearly doubles your risk for having an accident. Add to the mix fiddling with car stereos, answering phones, or even eating snacks, and your reaction time can slow to a pitiful three seconds.
Your speed affects certain factors, which will most likely hamper your ability to react quickly.
- Braking distance varies depending on road conditions, the road’s incline, your tire performance and condition, and of course…your speed. In physics, braking distance is correlated to the square of your speed. This means that the faster you are drive, the greater the distance that is required to to slow down or stop.
- Handling and Control. The faster you drive, the less chance you have of being in full control of your car. Another physics fact applies; Newton’s First Law of Motion. This law states that "an object in motion stays in motion."
Inertia is defined as the resistance that makes it hard for an object to change a state of rest or motion. This is the reason that a person will keep moving once their car has stopped, if they are not restrained by a seatbelt. To counter inertia, you need to apply force, such as turning your steering wheel. The quicker you\ are moving, the greater the force is between your tires and the road, and the the better chance you have of losing control of your vehicle. Greater speeds also increase the chances that a driver will over or under-correct.
A speeding ticket greatly increases your insurance rates, but it also raises your chance of an automobile accident. And even if you are a perfect driver with a clean record, you cannot account for the driving skills of other drivers.
So ease your foot off the pedal and see your accident potential plummet!
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