Speeding can be defined as exceeding the posted speed limit and driving too fast for conditions. Unfortunately many people do not view obeying speed limits as an important way to avoid crashes. Speeding is regarded as a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes. The important factors to consider are the following:
- Speed reduces the amount of available time needed to avoid a crash / to stop the vehicle
- Speed extends the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation
- Speed reduces the ability of the driver to steer safely around curves or objects on the road
- Speed increases the likelihood of crashing
- Speed increases the severity of a crash once it occurs.
The Arrive Alive Campaign is aware that the public needs to be made more aware of the dangers of speeding. If speeding is to be combatted more effectively, we would have to devote increased resources to better enforcement, including more law officers to patrol the roads and we must support technological advances such as video cameras [“photo radar”] to target aggressive speeding drivers. We would also have to consider the effective development of speed calming devices in road engineering especially in specific rural areas.
Alcohol and speeding are a deadly combination. Research in the USA has indicated that a much higher percentage of intoxicated drivers who were involved in fatal crashes, were speeding than sober drivers involved in fatal crashes. Young male drivers are most likely to be involved in fatal accidents where speeding and alcohol are prevalent.
Many speed related crash reduction efforts try to utilize the 5E’s strategy namely Education, Enforcement, Empowerment, Engineering and Evaluation. It is however the drivers responsibility to obey the traffic laws and to be sure that all passengers are safely seated and belted.
Does Speed Really Kill?
Some experts claim that speeding is not the main reason for car accidents (is it really true?) They say that quality performance is more important than speed control. Car drivers cause accidents through poor performance.The primary cause of accidents are careless driving, use of drugs, drivers' errors and mistakes.
Oman has one of the highest traffic accidents worldwide! Nearly six thousand people lost their lives in Oman between 2000 and 2008. More than 70 000 people were injured. Many people were disabled for life.
Most accidents are caused by speeding. Follow the speed limit. Drive slow and enjoy the ride while it lasts...Life is too short anyway... Why make it shorter? Don't speed.
References
Why Focus on Speed?
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9782940395040_chap1_eng.pdf
Road Safety - Speed
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/world_report/speed_en.pdf
Speed Kills, But on Interstates, Speed Variance Is More Deadly
http://www.willardsays.com/dredging_speedkills.pdf
Speed Speed Kills! Kills! AA Plan Plan of of Action
http://download.intel.com/education/common/en/Resources/UP/SR_UP3/Road_Safety_Presentation.pdf
Speed Kills
http://www.wainwright.army.mil/safety/Documents/Speed%20and%20Friction.pdf
The Slower Speeds Initiative
http://www.slower-speeds.org.uk/files/speedkills.pdf
Fatal Car Accident Speed
http://members.optusnet.com.au/carsafety/paine_impact_speeds_jan07.pdf
Correct Speed Rules
http://www.driving-test-success.com/driving-articles/speed-limits.htm
Determining Vehicle Speeds From Skid Marks
http://www.harristechnical.com/articles/skidmarks.pdf
MAnaging Speeds of Traffic on European Roads (MASTER)
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmgt/ref_mats/fhwasa09028/resources/Reccs%20for%20Speed%20Managmenet%20European%20Roads.pdf
Kaptein, N. & Claessens, M. Effects of Cognitive Road Classification on Driving Behaviour: A Driving Simulator Study. MASTER Deliverable D5 (report 2.3.3). VTT Communities & Infrastructure, Finland, 1998.
Nilsson G. Traffic safety dimensions and the power model to describe the effect of speed on safety. Bulletin 221, Sweden, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University, 2004.
Speed Fact Sheet
http://www.etsc.eu/documents/Speed%20Fact%20Sheet%206.pdf
