If you’re driving on an empty road, you might feel that it’s safe for you to speed since there isn’t anyone else around. It isn’t. Following the speed limit is important to give you enough time to react to an unexpected situation – whether it’s a mistake on your behalf or someone elses.
The New Zealand Transport Agency launched a campaign to help encourage drivers to avoid speeding, which is illustrated in the below ad.
While you can debate that the other driver should not have pulled out, driving at the speed limit gives you a better chance of safely accommodating other drivers. Many drivers drive faster than the speed limit and they feel in control, but the truth of the matter is that you have less time to react when you’re driving faster.
Investigators determined that speed was a factor in the fiery car crash that claimed the life of Paul Walker (the star in the Fast & Furious movie franchise) and his friend, Roger Rodas. The 2005 red Porsche Carrera GT Rodas was driving hit a light pole and a tree before catching on fire. The speed limit in the area was 72 kilometres/hour (45 miles/hour).
In Ontario, the number one factor of many motor vehicle crashes is speed, according to the CBC. Speed accounted for 25 per cent of car crash fatalities (more than 700 of them) in the country during 2002 to 2004, according to Transport Canada. Forty per cent of drivers involved in fatal crashes were between the age of 16 to 24 and most of the drivers who were speeding in those accidents were killed.
On the January 24 weekend, OPP responded to more than 1,600 crashes across the province when a snowstorm hit the region. There were three fatalities and unfortunately during these investigations, eight OPP cruisers were struck, which resulted in minor injuries for two police officers.
“I want to make it very clear: severe weather and poor driving conditions are not the main cause in the overwhelming number of collisions we’ve seen these past several weeks. It is the way people are driving in these conditions that jeopardizes the safety of the motoring public and our officers,” said OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis. “This irresponsible driving behaviour must stop.”
While Ontario has faced the worst winter in years with numerous heavy snowstorms, Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, the Provincial Commander of Traffic Safety and Operational Support, says that drivers have not adjusted their driving habits for these weather conditions. “Most of the crashes being investigated by our officers involve drivers who either lost control because they did not slow down when they needed to or who ignored our warnings to avoid non-essential travel when the weather was particularly severe,” he said.
A general rule for drivers is to drive at the same speed as others around you. It should be common sense for drivers to slow down if there are construction workers on the road or if you have low visibility or slippery road conditions. Also, don’t forget to wear your seatbelt and ensure that you’re not distracted while driving. Especially during the winter, if you’re driving at the speed limit on a snow-covered road, you’re still going too fast. “You need to slow right down. This is critical to maintaining control of your vehicle and avoiding a collision,” Lewis told the Ottawa Citizen.
If you see an emergency responder on the road, it’s important for all drivers to slow down and move over to let it through.
Accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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