Speeding is a risk to the people on the roads, yourself included. When you’re going to be traveling, you should always plan to have enough time to travel at or below the speed limit. Though you may see other drivers bustling by, it’s better for you to stay under that limit.
Why? Speeding is illegal for a reason. When you speed, you increase the likelihood of a collision. You also increase the chances of serious injuries if a crash does occur. Speeding has been a constant issue in America, but it is improving thanks to enforcement. In 2018, there were 9,378 deaths linked to speeding, which was a drop of around 6% from the year before.
What are the unintended consequences of speeding?
The unintended consequences of speeding include:
- A higher risk of losing control of your vehicle
- An increased risk of a severe collision with serious injuries or deaths
- Higher fuel consumption
- Reduced effectiveness of seat belts or airbags
- Increasing the length of time and distance needed to stop your vehicle
All of these consequences can be avoided, which will help you be safer on the road.
Slow down to avoid serious collisions
Slowing down is sometimes easier said than done, but doing so is important. Speeding is an aggressive form of driving behavior, and it is usually brought on by anxiety, such as because of being late for a meeting or wanting to get home, or because of frustration, like in a situation where traffic has been backed up for hours.
To help prevent yourself from speeding and being aggressive on the roads, the best thing you can do is plan in advance for your drive. Give yourself more than enough time to get where you need to go, and be patient while you’re driving to get there.
Speeding doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of getting to your location, especially when slowdowns, heavy traffic and other issues are what are holding you back.
If you are involved in a crash caused by speeding, you should know that you have rights. You can pursue a claim if the other driver was being reckless, which is something to keep in mind when you drive as well.