Speed Kills

Everybody’s in a hurry. You have to get to your part-time job on time, but you spend a few extra minutes in front of the mirror before you leave. You want to see your girlfriend before you have to be home and finish the homework that you were supposed to do yesterday. You’re going to a party where all your friends are already having a great time. Maybe you are not even aware that your foot is pushing the accelerator pedal a little further. Or maybe you love the feeling that comes from the gunning of the engine.

There are a lot of reasons young people drive too fast. Here are some reasons to let up on the gas.

First of all, speeding won’t really save you much time. For example, if you drive 65 mph instead of 55 mph on the highway, over a 10 mile stretch, you’ll only arrive two minutes sooner. In city or residential traffic, the time saved is even less. If you’re caught speeding, you’ll pay a heavy fine. If you strike a child on a bicycle or cause a fatal crash, nothing can ever make up the time lost in those human lives or the devastation you’ll feel.

Many drivers feel secure speeding if they are not drunk or driving carelessly. “I’m a good driver,” they say. “I’m in control.” But simple math tells another story. It takes 3/4 of a second to move your foot from the gas to the brake pedal. If you are traveling 60 mph, you’ll cover 66 feet before you even reach the brake! From the time you begin to react to the time the car actually stops, you’ll cover nearly 300 feet. That’s 300 feet of potential collision space—300 feet in which you cannot stop.

Lower speeds save fuel, money, and lives. Take your time. The next time you’re tempted to “save time” by speeding, think of the lives you may save and take it easy. Enjoy the ride!

For more information concerning passenger safety issues, contact the Passenger Safety Office with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service at (979) 458-3428.