Last year the West Australian Road Safety Commission reported that data collected over the previous 5 years showed that:
- On average 160 people are killed on West Australian roads each year;
- About 70 of those accidents happen because of excessive speed;
- About 72 people die in accidents on WA roads each year where the speed limit on the road is 110km/h, more than triple the number of deaths in any other speed category;
- For example, on average only 1 person dies on WA roads each year where the speed limit is 40km/h.
But why is speed so dangerous?
- Increased Reaction Time: Higher speeds result in longer reaction times. A driver traveling at a higher speed will take more time to see the hazard, react, and then swerve or brake. The delay contributes to a higher probability of accidents, especially in situations that require a quick reaction.
- Extended Stopping Distances: The distance required to bring a vehicle to a complete stop increases exponentially with speed. At higher speeds the stopping distance is longer, making it more challenging for drivers to react to sudden changes in traffic conditions or obstacles on the road. For example:
- at 60km/h, if you see a problem it will take time for you to react. By the time you react your car has travelled 33 metres. If you then brake, it will take about 23m to stop. In other words, if you are driving at 60km/hr and there is a problem, your stopping distance is about 56m.
- at 100km/h, if you see a problem it will take time for you to react. By the time you react your car has travelled 69 metres. If you then brake, it will take about 64m to stop. In other words, if you are driving at 100km/hr and there is a problem, your stopping distance is about 133m.
- Severity of Collisions: When car accidents happen, the severity of the impact increases with speed. The energy involved in a collision is proportional to the square of the speed. This means that a collision at a higher speed will result in significantly more damage and greater potential for injuries or fatalities.
- Reduced Control: Higher speeds reduce a driver’s ability to maintain control of their car, particularly when negotiating curves or coming across poor road conditions. This lack of control increases the risk of accidents.
- Increased Vulnerability of Vulnerable Road Users: Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists are more vulnerable at higher speeds. The likelihood of severe injuries or fatalities in collisions involving these road users significantly increases when vehicles are traveling at higher speeds.
- Effect on Crash Avoidance Systems: Advanced safety features and crash avoidance systems operate optimally at lower speeds. Higher speeds may limit the effectiveness of these systems in preventing or mitigating accidents.
What can I do?
Driving at the speed limit is not an accurate indication that you are driving at a safe speed – always drive to the conditions. The speed limit is simply the limit put on the road that tells drivers the speed that you can drive at if all the conditions allow. There might be conditions where you need to drive slower than the limit, for example:
- Weather: If the road is wet or there is decreased visibility you should consider reducing your speed.
- Pedestrians and cyclists: If there are a lot of pedestrians or cyclists you may need to reduce your speed.
- Location considerations: In residential or around schools or parks you should consider reducing speed.
- Type of road: You should consider reducing speed on unsealed or highly congested roads.
At Lian Hall Injury Law we help many people each year who have been injured in car accidents on roads in Perth. If you are making a claim for compensation for a car accident in Perth, give us an obligation-free call to chat with a personal injury lawyers about how to give your claim the best chance of success.
