Speeding Defined
[spee ding]
Speeding isn’t just exceeding the posted speed limit.
Driving too fast for current weather and road
conditions also is considered speeding.
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Speed and Reaction Time
ahead of them and
1.5
*NSW Centre for Road Safety
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Speed Affects Distance Traveled During Reaction Time
The faster your vehicle is going, the farther the distance traveled while
you process what is happening ahead of you.
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Speed and Human Factors
Processing what is happening ahead of you and getting your foot on the
brake are both components of human factors, meaning they can be
affected by:
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Drowsiness and/or fatigue
Alcohol consumption
Use of some over-the-counter or prescription drugs
Manual, visual or cognitive distraction
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Speed, Delayed Processing, and Stopping Distance (Examples)
Typical Processing Distance
20 mph
32 km/h
1.5 secs
20 ft
3 seconds / 40 ft
40 mph
64 km/h
60 mph
96 km/h
40 ft
(12 m)
Drowsy, Impaired, or Distracted Processing Distance
60 ft
(18 m)
20 ft
79 ft
1.5 secs / 40 ft
Braking Distance
3 seconds / 80 ft
Typical processing time is 1.5
seconds. A driver who is drowsy,
distracted, or impaired by drugs
or alcohol may take as long as 3
critical seconds to react.*
119 ft
(36 m)
159 ft
(48 m)
79 ft
240 ft
(73 m)
180 ft
1.5 secs / 60 ft
3 seconds / 120 ft
180 ft
300 ft / (91 m)
*NSW Centre for Road Safety
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Speed Plus Other Factors that Affect Stopping Distance
Weather / Road conditions
Condition of tires and brakes
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Speed and Kinetic Energy
The faster you drive, the greater the severity of impact and the
energy that must be absorbed.
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Speed and Pedestrians
Drivers are twice as likely to kill a pedestrian on impact if they are traveling
at 30 mph (50 km/h) vs. 25 mph (40 km/h).*
*Waltz, F. H., Hoefliger, M. and Fehlmann, W., Speed limit reduction from 60 to 50 km/h and pedestrian injuries
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Speed of Impact Affects How Well Safety Features Work
The effectiveness of restraint devices like air bags, seat belts,
crumple zones and side beams decline as impact speed
increases.
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Speeding Can Be Costly (Even Without a Crash)
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Ticket fines
Higher insurance premiums
Possible license suspension
Possible criminal record
Possible loss of job
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Speeding Saves Very Little Time
On a 5-mile trip, driving 65 mph (104 km/h)
on a 45-mph (72 km/h) road saves less than
2 minutes.*
*AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. (2016).
Speeding, AAA Exchange.
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Ways to Avoid Speeding
• Careful route planning saves more time than speeding. Check traffic apps before you leave
to help avoid congestion.
• Full mirror sweeps are recommended every 5-7 seconds. Include checking the
speedometer to keep your eye on your speed and avoid accidental speeding.
• Use cruise control selectively. Set at a legal, safe speed, taking into account
weather and road conditions. Cruise control is not recommended on city
streets, in heavy traffic, on hilly, curvy, slippery, wet, snowy, or icy roads.
• Consider a driving playlist or tune in to an “easy listening” station to help reduce stress and
help you slow down.
• Leave 5-10 minutes early!
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One More Thing…
In a motor vehicle crash, an unbelted occupant actually suffers 3 crashes*:
1) Vehicle collision The vehicle crashes into another vehicle or fixed object such as a guard rail or tree;
2) Human collision The body crashes into other occupants and/or the interior of the vehicle, or is
thrown out of the vehicle through one of the windows; and
3) Internal collision Internal organs crash against each other and/or the body's skeletal structure.
Buckle Up- on every trip, every time. And be sure your passengers do, too.
* Source: NHTSA
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Life Goes By Way Too Fast to Not
BUCKLE UP and SLOW DOWN!
www.trafficsafety.org
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