Learn why you should not speed or drive aggressively

Speeding

If you drive fast, you have a greater risk of losing control. You can seriously injure yourself or others. 

Speed limits are in place for a reason. They're determined by a variety of factors, such as:

• whether the road is a residential road or highway;
• road design and surrounding infrastructure;
• sight distances and visibility;
• proximity to schools or playgrounds;
• traffic patterns in the area; and
• road users for the road in question.

These factors go into deciding the safest maximum speed that'll keep all road users safe on a roadway.

Highway speed limits are typically 90 to 100 kilometres per hour. If you're driving fast and have a collision, you've a greater risk of death or serious injury. The risk is 11 times higher if you're driving 50 kilometres per hour or more over a highway speed.

Whether you're an experienced driver or not, the laws of physics affect everyone the same way. Speeding:

• increases stopping distances; and
• reduces the amount of time your brain has to process information.

Speeding makes it harder to react quickly in the event of an emergency. Consider the situations below. You may need to make quick evasive manoeuvres to:

• avoid a pedestrian, animal, another vehicle or debris on the road; or
• compensate for your traction and control if the road conditions suddenly change.

It only takes a fraction of a second for things to go very wrong.

When driving through residential areas, consider these factors:

• Will you be able to stop if a dog or person suddenly appears in the street?
• Will you be able to stop if you come around a corner to find a vehicle blocking the roadway?

Aggressive driving

Aggressive driving is when you drive without care, and put people or property in danger by:

• speeding; or
• driving too fast for road conditions.

There are many road actions that are categorized as aggressive driving, such as:

• speeding;
• refusing to yield right of way;
• honking repeatedly or honking unnecessarily;
• running a yellow light;
• running a stop sign or red light;
• weaving in and out of traffic;
• passing too close to a cyclist or pedestrian, or cutting a vehicle off when passing;
• passing when it's illegal to pass;
• stopping on a crosswalk;
• tailgating and following too close;
• stunt-driving; and
• racing.

Keeping children safe

There's a reason why school and playground zones are 30 kilometres per hour and not any other speed:

• A pedestrian hit by a vehicle doing 30 kilometres per hour has a 90 per cent chance of surviving.
• A pedestrian hit by a vehicle doing 50 kilometres per hour has an 80 per cent chance of being killed.

In school or playground zones, a 20 kilometre difference in your speed makes a big difference.

Remember: speed kills.