The Speed You Choose Affects the Outcome of a Crash: Here’s Why It Matters

When you’re speeding down a highway, does the thought of a crash automatically slow you down? Most driving school instructors will advise you to always drive according to the speed limits but not tell you why. We all understand that speed does have an impact on the outcome of a crash but what impact and why we don’t know. Neither do most of us care enough to ever wonder about it. However, knowing the correlation between speed and the results of a collision can help you gauge the right speed for driving on a particular road or in a particular situation. It’s not something you can learn in a Safer Drivers course. You must understand the science behind it and practice driving a lot to hone your judgment and reflexes. This post can help you know more about why the speed you choose affects the outcome of an accident and why it matters in road safety.

The speed of your vehicle plays a big role in determining the outcome of a crash. Speed affects the force with which a vehicle collides and the effect it has on the vehicle itself. The impact of a high-speed car colliding with another vehicle is much higher compared to a low-speed vehicle. And bigger impact means more energy exerted and more damage caused. The higher the speed of the car, the more severe damage it causes in a crash. That’s why it’s important to maintain a steady and balanced speed on the road. While you don’t want to go way too fast, you also shouldn’t be driving so slow that other drivers end up colliding with you.

Accidents involving speeding are often due to a lack of response time. When you’re speeding down the road, you’re least bothered about maintaining safe distances or being ready for sudden hazards. However, that is what affects your driving and increases the chances of accidents. Speeding gives you little time to react to any sudden changes while driving. Whether it’s the car in front stopping suddenly or a pedestrian starts crossing the road, if you’re driving at a high speed, stopping the car requires more time, space, and energy. As the speed increases, the braking distance required by the vehicle to stop completely after applying brakes also increases. That’s why driving schools also emphasize following the speed limits in their driving lessons.

Speed limits are not road decorations or some sort of punishment. They are traffic rules made to set a standard speed for drivers to follow. They are designed to reduce the risks of crashes and increase safety and order on the road. Speed limits are not just randomly assigned to any road. They are decided after careful consideration of road conditions, location, weather, expected traffic, etc. By following the speed limits drivers can maintain a steady speed that suits the road conditions and allows them to stop quickly and with less braking distance when faced with any sudden change. Driving at safe speeds keeps the drivers as well as other road users safe.

Speed also has a big impact on the injuries in a crash. When the crashing cars collide at a high speed, they have a bigger impact on the vehicles. Hence, the chances of people getting hurt increase and so do the possibility of severe injuries and property damage. From insurance to repair and rehabilitation, there can be so many things that need attention after a crash. The greater the damage to humans and property, the more it will cost. That’s why driving schools always focus on instilling the habit of following speed limits in new drivers.

Driving is a dynamic activity that involves more than simply sitting in a vehicle and operating a few handles. It requires skill, experience, presence of mind, patience, and good judgment and decision-making abilities. Speed limits are designed to suit the road conditions properly and ensure safety and order. However, following them strictly or being flexible according to the situation depends on the driver’s knowledge and experience. Now that we know how speed affects the outcome of a crash, it is easier to understand the importance of maintaining the right driving speed that suits the roads the best. Driving school like Onroad Driving Education also emphasize improving the driver’s judgment and reflexes so that they can obey speed limits, gauge the right speed for a road, and maintain safety on the road.

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