Excessive or inappropriate speed is, along with distractions and alcohol, one of the main causes of traffic accidents. Various studies confirm that there is a direct relationship between the speed at which one travels and the severity of accidents, as well as the probability of their occurrence.
Despite evidence supported by multiple reports, there is a long-held belief among some drivers that newer cars are safer and therefore speed limits on roads should be corrected upwards. While it is true that advanced ADAS safety technologies, such as automatic braking systems and driving assistants, contribute to the reduction of risks on the road, they should not be considered a reason to increase speed limits.
Regardless of the security systems that a vehicle is equipped with, the relationship between speed and safety is evident. The faster you drive, the more the driver’s reaction time and the distance necessary to stop the vehicle are reduced. This means that in dangerous situations such as an unexpected obstacle or a sharp bend, excessive speed can lead to serious collisions, even in state-of-the-art vehicles.
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) warns drivers against the false belief that speed does not influence the outcome of a road accident because cars are increasingly safer. In a post published on its official X profile (formerly Twitter), the agency dependent on the Ministry of the Interior points out that this perception is not true. “Always at higher speed, greater risk of injury,” says Tráfico.
In its publications, the DGT is forceful about the consequences that speed has on road accidents and explains that the probability of dying or suffering serious permanent injuries is much greater “in an accident with excessive speed than in another with moderate speed.” . The explanation for this fact is found in the laws of physics, specifically, in the kinetic energy that a moving vehicle accumulates.
Kinetic energy increases depending on the weight and speed of the vehicle. “For this reason,” says the DGT, “driving your vehicle above the speed limit with just a few extra kilometers per hour means that a large amount of extra energy is accumulated.”
To illustrate this principle, Traffic cites several examples in which the relationship between speed and the severity of the impact is revealed, assuming that the car hits a rigid object, which is what happens in most cases.
As speed increases, the safety distance also increases, that is, the distance to stop your vehicle. In other words, the faster you go, the more time and space you will need before your car comes to a complete stop or before it slows down enough to avoid a collision.
The stopping distance is equal to the sum of the reaction distance (the distance you travel before pressing the brake) plus the braking distance (the distance you travel during braking). This stopping distance is not only influenced by the speed at which we are traveling but also by the state of the road, the weather conditions, the condition of the vehicle and the condition of the driver. Fatigue, sleep or alcohol level are some factors that can disturb the mental state of the person behind the wheel.
Both reaction distance and braking distance are directly affected by the speed at which you are traveling. The faster you go, the greater the reaction distance, since you will need more space to perceive danger and react.
Likewise, at higher speeds, braking distance is also increased, as your vehicle will have more kinetic energy that must be dissipated before coming to a complete stop. Braking distance is also affected by the mass of the vehicle, the load you are carrying and its placement; the condition of the brakes, tires and shock absorbers; and the conditions of the road and the environment.
