One of the worst problems threatening road safety is speeding. It makes sense. All of us are very busy and need to get to where we need to be as soon as possible. However, speeding can be extremely dangerous not only to yourself but to others on the road as well.
People may often say that ticketing speeding drivers more often or posting larger maximum speed signs in more place should solve the problem, but it hasn’t. As our lives get busier and busier, people are more likely to speed unintendedly. If you speed, here are five reasons from eTags on why you should put a little less weight on the gas pedal:
- You’re More Likely to Lose Control of Your Vehicle
- Faster Speeds Increase the Risk of More Serious Injuries
- You Will Need a Longer Stoppage Distance If You Perceive that Something Is Wrong
- Speeding Impedes the Effectiveness of Vehicle Safety Equipment
- You’ll Pay More for Gas as Speeding Increases Fuel Consumption
In addition to that, there is a psychological concern with speeding as well. If you’re constantly speeding, you might be engaging in other dangerous driving behaviors as well. These actions could lead to a crash that may result in injuries, fatalities, and heavy vehicle damage.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 10,000 fatalities from speed-related crashes. In total, speeding was a contributing factor in 27% of all fatal crashes in 2015. Although this is lower than the two-decade average (33%), this is still a far too high a number and one that can easily be reduced.
If you find that you’re speeding often, consider why you’re doing it. Take a look at your schedule and see if there are ways to reduce it or at the very least reorganize it so you can give yourself more time. Although all of us are busy and hate being stuck in traffic, speeding is simply not worth it.