Some devastating auto collisions occur because one of the drivers was going past the posted speed limit. Speeding is nothing to take lightly. Some drivers may feel burdened by speed limits, but the truth is that a speeding driver not only endangers his or her life, but those of other drivers and pedestrians.
Speeding is something drivers should avoid, and not just because it is against the law. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explains some reasons why speeding makes an auto wreck more likely.
More distance needed to slow down
The distance a driver needs to slow down and come to a stop becomes longer at higher speeds. A motorist who drives at 20 miles per hour can stop in a shorter time period than someone speeding at 50. This can cause a major problem if a speeding driver needs to slow down quickly to avoid hitting traffic but does not have enough distance to do so.
Losing control of the vehicle
Driving at higher speeds increases the chances that the driver will lose control of the vehicle. Circumstances may require a driver to make a turn to avoid running off the road or hitting an obstacle. However, a sudden turn at a high speed can cause an automobile to spin out of control and slam into another vehicle. Overturning into a ditch or canal could also occur.
Speeding in deteriorating conditions
Speeding becomes an even more dangerous issue when conditions on the road deteriorate. According to the National Safety Council, a speeding vehicle contributed to 45% of collision fatalities on roads coated with dirt, gravel or mud and 37% when it came to roads with standing or moving water.
Cold weather conditions can do a lot to making speeding more hazardous. NSC stats show that speeding drivers contribute to 41% of fatalities on icy or frosted roads. Snow can also be a big problem, as speeding factors into 37% of fatal accidents on roads that have snow or slush.