Speeding is the leading cause of road deaths in France. It is both a triggering factor for the accident and an aggravating factor. What are the risks of speeding on driving for you and others? Find all the information on the speed risk.
Speed And Driving: What Are The Risks?
The more the speed increases, the more the field is reduced. It is limited to a central view of the road at high speeds.
Risk Of More Serious Accidents
The higher the speed, the more violent the impact in the event of an accident and the more serious the consequences. Any frontal impact above 80 km/h almost inevitably leads to death or irreversible damage for any passenger, even with a belt.
Increased Fatigue And Stress
Driving fast is tiring, forcing the driver to process a large amount of information in a minimum of time and constantly adapt their vision. Speed induces stress, leading to fatigue and loss of alertness, two major accident factors.
What Does The Highway Code Say?
Speed is limited on the entire road network. This regulation applies to all drivers and all vehicles, without exception. The speed must be adapted to the weather conditions (rain, other precipitation, visibility less than 50 meters).
Tips For Avoiding Risk-Taking
Speed is France’s leading cause of road deaths (31%) for example. It is both a triggering factor for the accident and an aggravating factor.A variation in speed implies a significant variation in the risk of fatal accidents: a 1% drop in average speed mechanically lowers the rate of fatal accidents by 4%.
Adapt your speed to traffic and weather conditions, road, vehicle load, and tire conditions.
Be Extra Vigilant At Night
Dipped beam lights only illuminate 30 meters away. At 70 km/h, the obstacle which arises in the illuminated zone is unavoidable.
Respect The Safety Distances
Some recommendations include safety distance and braking time:Stopping distance increases with speed. It corresponds to the distance traveled during the driver’s reaction time added to the vehicle’s braking distance. The reaction time varies from 1 to 2 seconds. The distance traveled during this time increases with speed. The vehicle’s braking distance will depend on the condition of the road, but above all, on the speed.It is essential to respect the safety distances. Leave at least 2 seconds on the road between you and the vehicle in front of you. On the motorway, maintain a distance of at least two white lines from the emergency lane. Look out for road bump.
To Note
For example, the stopping distance inevitably increases with risk factors, speed, or alcohol. When we inform you of a reaction time that varies from 1 to 2 seconds, this is an average for a person who has not consumed substances that can alter this reaction time and who does not present signs of fatigue that can lead to loss of alertness.
