Is Speeding Worth the Extra Risk?

Have you ever wondered if that car that flies down the left lane like a NASCAR driver, weaving in and out, really get anywhere faster? I feel like a lot of times, just the way humans naturally think, we tend to justify speeding to get to our destination on time. Most of the time this is never really what will make us on time. The only way to be on time is give yourself enough time!

How are speed limits determined?

According to Virginia Department of Transportation speed limits are based on an engineering study that considers numerous factors that affect the safe and appropriate speed. A primary consideration is the speed characteristics, particularly the prevailing (free-flowing) speed, of vehicles on the roadway. The engineering study also considers other factors that provide additional indications of the appropriate speed limit. These include:

• The physical characteristics of the road such as geometry, lane and shoulder widths
  
• The nature of traffic on the roadway such as the volume and type of vehicles
  
• The commercial and residential development along the road
  
• The related traffic; pedestrian activity, and the historical number and type of crashes

Have you done the math?

Since no one is hopefully reading this article in a car while speeding through traffic or in a hurry, running, to get somewhere, lets break this down. For example, let’s say your commute to work is 60 miles on a highway and the speed limit is 60 miles per hour. To flow more easily with traffic, you decide to drive 70 miles per hour but one day you are running late and 80 to 90 miles per hour makes you think you will make up for lost time (this is not considering any heavy traffic you may face along the way). 

Now the answer can be broken down into simple math using the formula:

time(minutes) = distance / (speed in mph/60)

SPEED VS TIME TAKE FOR 60 MILES

As you can see, you only save at most a tad over 10 minutes by driving at an excessively fast speed of 90 mph. Speeding is just not a big-time saver.

What are the possible outcomes of speeding?

When it comes to just getting away with just a ticket, according to nerdwallet, the average Virginia driver will face a car insurance premium increase of $64.95 per year. Car insurance increases resulting from moving violations normally last for three years, so a Virginia driver speeding 15 miles an hour over the speed limit will pay an extra $193.85 in total insurance increases. The average Virginian will also face a 7.37% increase in his annual car insurance premium after receiving a speeding ticket. 

The fact is that speeding and driving like you are the only person on the road that needs to get somewhere has a much bigger effect on who you may hurt or even kill while doing so. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding endangers everyone on the road: In 2016, speeding killed 10,111 people, accounting for more than a quarter (27%) of all traffic fatalities that year. Is saving 10 minutes’ worth the possibility of injuring yourself or others? The amount of paper and legal work that will be involved and the time it will take you to sort out all the insurance and medical claims could be something that will stay with you the rest of your life. So slow down, take a second to think about safety.

By: Matt Wireman, CHST