Penalties for speeding include substantial fines, licence endorsements and/or disqualification.
Driving too fast causes thousands of avoidable deaths and injuries every year. The risk of your having an accident increases the faster you go, while the chances of survival for you and road users in your path decreases as the needle on the speedometer climbs. Nine out of ten pedestrians will survive being hit by a car travelling at 10 mph, but at 40 mph nine out of ten is the death toll.
Obeying the speed limit is not necessarily the same thing as travelling at a safe speed. The speed limit represents the maximum permissible speed in optimum conditions. A safe speed is one which allows you to stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.
When assessing what would be a safe speed, you need to take into account:
Weather: It takes much longer to stop on wet or icy surfaces. ABS brakes help prevent skids, they don’t reduce your stopping distance.
Visibility: At night or in fog you won’t be able to see far ahead.
Road conditions: Bends and hills mean blind spots. Stopping distances increase when travelling downhill. In densely populated areas there’s a danger of pedestrians stepping off the pavement into your path.
Traffic: heavy traffic means more hazards to watch for.
Driver: High speeds require total concentration, excellent vision (to scan the horizon), and the ability to evaluate hazards and take appropriate action. This level of concentration cannot be sustained over long periods, even by the most experienced driver. Know your limitations, the speed you are safe and comfortable with, and drive accordingly.
Vehicle: The power of the engine and braking characteristics will determine how fast it can travel in safety. Worn brakes, worn tyres, and poor suspension make it more difficult to stop in a hurry.
It’s easy to speed unintentionally when your speed perception gets distorted, as happens in poor visibility or after you’ve been travelling at high speed on a motorway. Keep checking your speedometer.
Driving too close to the vehicle in front is so common that many drivers aren’t even aware of the risk they’re taking. At least 10 per cent of accidents occur as a result of this practice, and it’s one of the things most likely to incite road rage in others.
Allow yourself time to react to hazards by leaving a safe gap between your car and the vehicle in front. If someone behind you draws too close, increase the gap in front of you to compensate. That way you won’t find yourself sandwiched between other vehicles in the event of a crash.
The following distances are based on a vehicle in optimum condition on a flat, straight road in good, dry conditions, with an alert driver:
STOPPING DISTANCES
| speed | thinking distance* | braking distance | overall stopping distance |
| 20 mph | 6 m/20 ft | 6 m/20 ft | 12 m /40 ft (3 car lengths) |
| 30 mph | 9 m/30 ft | 14 m/45 ft | 23 m /75 ft (6 car lengths) |
| 40 mph | 12 m/40 ft | 24 m/80 ft | 36 m /120 ft (9 car lengths) |
| 50 mph | 15 m/50 ft | 38 m/125 ft | 53 m/175 ft (13 car lengths) |
| 60 mph | 18 m/60 ft | 55 m/180 ft | 73 m /240 ft (18 car lengths) |
| 70 mph | 21 m/70 ft | 75 m/245 ft | 96 m/315 ft (24 car lengths) |
*Thinking distance is the time it takes for the driver to recognize the need to brake and apply pressure to the pedal.
The old motto, ‘Be prepared!’ applies as much on the roads as in the Boy Scouts. Develop your ability to read the road and identify potential dangers early on, so that you can respond in good time should the need arise. Remain constantly alert to the changing road conditions, even when you’re certain you know the road like the back of your hand — most accidents happen within 10 miles of the driver’s home. Never be complacent in your driving; other road users can make mistakes or take reckless chances. Drive at a speed which allows you time to evaluate and act upon any hazards which may arise.
By anticipating problems you can avoid having to slam on the brakes at the last moment, with the risk that entails of a following car slamming into you. Slow down gradually by applying the brakes, so that following drivers can see your brake lights and adjust their speed accordingly.
Other common accident scenarios and techniques for avoiding hazards are dealt with in Defensive Driving.
Thousands of tons of debris are cleared from motorways every year, much of it potentially lethal. Vehicle parts account for most of the rubbish, though items as large as garage doors and gas cookers have been retrieved from traffic lanes by police. Even relatively small items can kill: a sheet of newspaper, if it lands across the windscreen or wraps itself round a motorcyclist’s head, can cause a fatal accident.
Motorists, when faced with a piece of debris on the road ahead and a split second in which to decide what action to take, will, in most cases, swerve suddenly to avoid the debris — creating a further hazard for following drivers.
To minimize the dangers of road debris, give yourself time and space in which to react:
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. If it is carrying a load which appears unstable, allow an even greater gap. Should another car fill the gap, ease off again to maintain that safety margin. Remember that the shortest stopping distance at 70 mph is the equivalent of 24 car lengths.
• Read the road ahead. Keep an eye on what cars in the distance are doing. If you see them taking avoiding action, prepare to react. Watch out for drivers way ahead of you using their brake lights, hazard warning lights or indicators. Give yourself time to slow down to a halt — braking suddenly will most likely result in your car being shunted by the vehicle behind.
When carrying a load of any description, make absolutely sure it is secure before you set off. The slipstream at 70 mph exerts considerable force.
If you see a dangerous obstruction in the road, find a safe place to stop and telephone the police. Your warning could save lives.
Safety demands that you and your car need to be in tip-top condition. Before driving off, always carry out a quick inspection to ensure that there are no signs of forced entry and that the car is serviceable (see First Parade in Maintenance), and that your survival kit(s) are stowed correctly. This check will only take a few minutes and yet it could save you hours of misery.
A quick way to remember the items which need checking is to think POWER: