What causes accidents: speed
There is a well known saying from safety campaigns which simply says that "speed kills".
Although many people think that you have to be travelling really quickly in order to make an impact sufficient enough to seriously injure someone or to kill them - such as the sorts of speeds you see on the motorway - this is not actually the case.
Indeed even at what you might consider 'low' speeds, like those around streets in towns and cities, just a few mph can make a major difference to the strength of an impact and therefore the severity of an accident, whether or not it involves other people or is a single vehicle crash impact.
Going a little too fast is doubly dangerous. First of all, it means that you have less time to react to an unexpected situation - for instance something running across the road. But secondly, if you hit that object or person at the higher speed then the impact is much more severe too.
This is why you should always stick to speed limits even if you think it is safe to go quicker: it is never safe, because the unexpected could always happen. Travelling at 35mph instead of 30mph where that is the speed limit could lead to the difference between life and death for someone who gets involved in an accident with a pedestrian.
Related Articles...
Tips on joining a motorway
Joining and leaving the motorway are generally considered the more tricky elements of the journey. When it comes to leaving the motorway, it is all about selecting the right exit and moving over to...
Car Driving Test Fees
This article looks at the costs, which were correct as of October 2009.
A standard car and motorcycle theory test costs £31.
In terms of the practical test, the price is a good deal...
What to do at a box junction
The box junction is quite common but despite this there are a whole wide range of ways in which different drivers interpret what they are supposed to do at them so you will see different behaviours...
Your vehicle and driving
There is a lot to take in when you are learning to drive and when you are preparing for the driving theory test. Whilst a lot of it is common sense there is a considerable amount of information you...
The New Drivers Act
The New Drivers Act is legislation that applies to those who have just passed their test and are categorised as new drivers, which in this legal definition refers to the first two years of passing...
Insurance for learner drivers
If you wish to learn to drive and you ever plan to use a private car then
you need to ensure the car you are going to use has the appropriate cover.
There are various levels of cover, the...
Professional driving instructors
When you learn to drive, you have the choice who teaches you. The majority of people decide to learn through a professional driving instructor and often through a major school of...
What to do if horses are on the road
It may sound quite rare, but actually on country journeys you will from time to time encounter horses and their riders using the road. And you may also come across other animals too.
When you...
Vehicle's registration certificate
A vehicle has a document called a V5C, and this is the registration certificate for the vehicle. However this document by itself is not alone proof that the person selling you a vehicle actually...
Nervous Driver Tips
Many people who learn to drive have a combination of nerves and excitement. Even if someone says they have no nerves and are perfectly confident when it comes to driving, the first time you get...
Back to home page of driving theory test questions
