Speeding

When we are teenagers and just get our Driver’s License we always think that we are invisible. That accidents cannot happen to us, so we test the limits with speeding, drag racing, and pulling dangerous moves while driving.

Little do you know that its not only the inexperience of drivers that put others at risk, but it is our emotions while driving. Whether you want to admit it or not our emotions are a definite component in our daily driving.

Speed was a factor in 30 percent (12,477) of all traffic fatalities in 1998, second only to alcohol (39 percent) as a cause of fatal crashes. Crash forces on impact double with every 10 mile per hour increase in speed above 50 miles per hour. When we get behind the wheel of our automobile our attention and focus needs to be on what’s in front of us and what is going on around us not what is going on in our lives.

The other week I was in a rush to get back to my original destination and yes, I was speeding. I was switching lanes and this car cut me off causing me to run off the road and onto a curb. I was so upset that I backed up and followed the car to get the License Plate number. My assumption was that this driver that did this was someone young who was on the phone and not paying attention. Little did I know that she was in my age range. It just goes to show you that no matter the age or sex of a driver we all can be inexperienced at times.

As crash forces increase, so does ones chances of being killed or seriously injured in a crash. Young drivers (under 30 years old) are more likely to speed than other drivers. Of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, young males are most likely to speed. We are all in a hurry to make it to our destination because time is of the essence; however, thinking about our actions before we make a move sometimes is the difference between harming someone, even ourselves, and making it there safely.

For ticket dismissal, auto insurance discounts, and additional information on speeding and driving with your emotions visit www.defensivedriving.com for more details.

-Kim