IMPROV Online Traffic School
Chapter 4: Speeding

It's no coincidence that many of the collisions on the road today are caused by excessive speed. Remember the phrase "speed kills!" When you drive fast, you really limit your chances to escape a crash. Your reaction time is put to the test anytime you drive. The faster you go, the less reaction time you have to stop, swerve, or avoid oncoming cars. The experts who determine the safe speed limits on the road do not just pull numbers out of thin air. Before a speed sign is posted, research is done by traffic safety engineers as to the safest maximum speed on that road under normal conditions. Any time you exceed that speed, you probably are not being safe, even if you think you are. Take our advice, listen to the experts!

SPEEDING IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN 31% OF ALL FATAL CRASHES

Courts are required to order a person convicted of a first violation of a speed contest (drag racing) to perform 40 hours of community service. If the offender's license privilege is suspended, proof of financial responsibility is required for reinstatement.

Basic Speed Law

Every state has a "Basic Speed Law," including California.

The Basic Speed Law simply states:
"DO NOT GO FASTER THAN IT IS SAFE FOR CONDITIONS."

What does that mean?

When you're driving down the road and there's a posted limit of 40 mph, that's the safest maximum speed you are allowed to drive at that time during normal conditions.

It's drizzling and you're going 38 mph. Can you still get a speeding ticket going 38 mph in a 40 mph zone?

Answer:   YES (Bummer)

The traffic, road, and weather conditions dictate the speed you should drive, regardless of what the speed limit may be.

The "basic speed law" also applies on the freeway. Let's say you just left a football stadium and there are 10,000 vehicles on the road in front of you. Is it okay to drive 55 mph? Of course not! You have all the vehicles in front of you. It wouldn't be safe.

Another example is when you're eating an Oreo cookie going down the road. If you are weaving all over the road while eating the center of the Oreo cookie, and drinking milk at the same time, then you can be in violation of the basic speed law.

When attempting to pass another car safely, you can always exceed the posted speed limit.

Answer:   —NEVER—

Why People Speed.

How much time do you think you actually save by speeding?

The following are two studies conducted on speeding. The results of the studies you will find very interesting.

STUDY NUMBER 1

This study looks at two cars traveling the same distance at different speeds on city streets. Car "A" traveled at a rate of speed of 35 mph. Car "B" traveled at 45 mph. Both cars traveled a distance of 10 miles.

How much sooner did Car "B" arrive at its destination than Car "A"? Five minutes? Eight minutes? Ten minutes?

The answer is? 90 seconds, a minute and a half.

STUDY NUMBER 2

This study is similar to number one, but the cars are traveling a greater distance and at a faster speed on the freeway. Car "A" traveled at a rate of speed of 65 mph. Car "B" went 55 mph. Both cars traveled a distance of 1,000 miles. How much sooner did Car "A" arrive at its destination than Car "B"?

On the average, Car "A" arrived 31 minutes sooner than Car "B".

The following is a chart illustrating the time saved over a 10 mile trip on the highway.

MPH	ACTUAL TIME	TIME SAVED
55	10 MIN. 55 SEC	—
60	10 MIN. 00 SEC	55 SEC.
65	09 MIN. 4 SEC.	1 MIN. 41 SEC.
70	08 MIN 34 SEC.	2 MIN. 21 SEC.

Has this ever happened to you? You've got your windows up, you're listening to the radio and you're thinking about how your day went. You're in your own little world. You get to where you're going and ask yourself, "How did I get here?" You know, there's some time missing from your life and you can't account for it. Chances are, during that time you were probably speeding, not to mention not paying attention to anything else.

Velocitation and Highway Hypnosis

Sometimes this lack of mental alertness can cause what traffic safety experts refer to as "Velocitation." Velocitation occurs when a driver unconsciously begins to speed up without realizing it! Drivers should always make sure that the speed they are driving is checked via the vehicle's speedometer on a regular basis while driving. This type of "Mental Drifting" or "Daydreaming" can also lead to "Highway Hypnosis"…and a really expensive speeding ticket.

Speed Limits

• The maximum speed limit on most California freeways is 65 mph, unless otherwise posted.
• On two-lane undivided highways and for vehicles towing trailers the speed limit is 55, unless otherwise posted.
• On some freeways the speed limit is 70 MPH—but only if posted. Look for posted speed limit signs.
• Speed limits may change on other multi-lane highways or freeways.
• In business or residential districts, the limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted.
• You must slow down when approaching a railroad track, approaching a curve, approaching a hill crest, bridge, or overpass.
• In a school zone, when children are present the speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise marked.
• Always follow the signs and traffic signals.

Prima Facie Speed Limits

The prima facie limits are as follows and shall be applicable unless changed when signs have been erected giving notice thereof:

15 MPH	At a railway grade crossing. (during the last 100 feet of the approach to the crossing, the driver does not have clear and unobstructed view of 400 feet in both directions along the railway. This subdivision does not apply in the case when a human (or someone resembling a human) is on duty or a clearly visible railway crossing signal device is installed.) Blind intersections (that are uncontrolled) where you don't have a clear view of the intersection during the last 100 feet of the approach. In any alley.
25 MPH	In any business or residence district unless a different speed limit is posted.
	When passing a senior center or other facility primarily used by senior citizens, contiguous to a street other than a state highway and posted with a standard "SENIOR" warning sign.

Minimum Speed Limits

You can't drive on a highway or freeway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with the law.

You can't stop on a highway so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the stop is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with the law.

Maximum Speed Limits

There are maximum speed limits for designated vehicles. No person may drive any of the following vehicles on a highway at a speed in excess of 55 MPH.

• A truck or tractor having three or more axles.
• A truck or tractor drawing any other vehicle.
• A passenger vehicles or bus drawing any other vehicle.
• A school bus transporting kids.
• A farm labor vehicle when transporting passengers.
• A vehicle transporting explosives.
• A trailer bus used for the transportation of more than 15 persons.
• Any car with furry dice obstructing the entire windshield.

Blind intersections and alleys:

Blind intersections are intersections where you cannot see for 100 feet in either direction during the last 100 feet before crossing.

Trees, bushes, buildings or parked cars at intersections can block your view of vehicles coming from the side. Slow to 15 mph for a blind intersection. However, you may drive as fast as the posted speed limit if YIELD or STOP signs on the side streets give you the right-of-way.

The speed limit in an alley is 15 mph (…unless you're being shot at).

In general, if you are not sure about your surroundings or what the actual speed limit is, SLOW DOWN until you're more certain of the speed limit, or how well you can handle the situation!

There are two basic reasons why people violate traffic laws. They're either not paying attention, or they're in a hurry. The same is true for other violations like running a stop sign, a red light, and not using your turn signal, all in the pursuit of some perceived time saving — it's really just not worth it. And remember, how much time do you really save?

Stopping Distances and The Force of Impact

While driving, always keep in mind that time, speed and distance are closely linked. Just take a minute to consider how much harder you would hit a wall while running full speed than if you simply walked into the wall.

 

The force of impact at 60 MPH is four times greater than at 30 MPH.
AT 55 MPH EVEN A BOX OF KLEENEX CAN BE DEADLY

A real danger that many driver are not even aware of, are the loose items inside your car. Yes, we mean all these Kleenex boxes and other things you proudly display on your dashboard or in the rear. These items are moving at the same speed as your car.

What happens if your car comes to a sudden stop like a collision? These items continue moving at the same speed your was going. It's like being fired from a cannon.

There is a famous freak crash where a guy in Wisconsin was coming around a curve and did not see the ice on the road. He skid and hit a little tree on the side of the road going 55 mph. He had his safety belt on, but a box of Kleenex hit his head and killed him.

Can you imagine getting in a crash at 100 mph and having your Brett Favre bobble head doll implanted in the back of your head?

Be especially careful when transporting kids and with open SUV trunks that are loaded to the max. Always use a cover to keep things in place in an SUV trunk.

Stopping Distance

One of our students, a professional race driver, told us about his first day in race school. On his first day they said, "You're going out on the race course and drive a car 160 miles per hour. There are four lanes on the course each with a red and green light. When you start all the lights will be red. Once you reach 160 mph, one of the lights will turn green. When the light turns green, immediately turn into that lane. The rest of the lanes will remain red."

He always thought it was cool to drive fast. Some of you have gone 80 mph, 90 mph or even 100 mph and think it is so great. But he said it's not so great after you learn more about driving. When you're going 120, 130, 140, 160, you sweat. You're so afraid. You don't even blink at 160 mph because if you do you might crash. Now they want you to change lanes at 160 mph when the light turns green.

At first you can't do it because you're too scared. After a while, you build up your courage and you try it. Before you know, it everybody in the school can change lanes at 160 mph.

Now they put you back in the classroom, and say "We want you to go 160 mph again, and stop the race car. Hit the brakes as hard as you can and stop the car." At 40 mph, it takes about half a football field (150 Feet) to stop, and almost a full football field (300 Feet) at 55 mph. Can you imagine 160 mph? He said you think you're never going to stop. You skid forever and ever and ever.

It takes about two football fields (600 Feet) before you begin to slow down. You just keep skidding and skidding and skidding and skidding and skidding. Again you return to the classroom and they say "Here's what you just learned. If you're in the Indianapolis 500 going 160 mph, and the car in front of you crashes. It's not going to help if you slam on the brakes!" That's why they teach you to move to the lane with the green light, the open lane.

Think about the last time you saw a wreck at the Indianapolis 500, or Daytona 500 nobody slams on the brakes. Professional race car drivers will move to the next available lane when there is a crash. Our first reaction when we see a collision in front of us is to slam on the brakes. Unfortunately, slamming on the brakes will only make you skid all over the road. Remember, you want to move to the open lane and go around the crash.

At 60 miles per hour, the force you produce is 4 times greater than at 30 miles per hour. Consider how much roadway you need to stop your car at different speeds.

• At 25 MPH — 62 feet
• At 35 MPH — 125 feet
• at 55 miles an hour it takes you 228 feet to stop the car

Speeding Facts

Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year. That's $1,281 per second.

Speeding is a contributing factor in about 31 percent of all fatal crashes. 13,113 lives are lost annually in speeding-related crashes.

For drivers involved in fatal crashes, young males are the most likely to be speeding. The relative proportion of speeding-related crashes to all crashes decreases with increasing driver age.

Let's Review

• "Basic Speed Law" states that you can never drive faster than it is safe for weather and road conditions. You can be cited for driving at speed limit if it wasn't safe at that time.
• Stopping distance increases progressively with speed… at 25 M.P.H., it will take you 62 feet to stop the car and 228 feet if you are driving at 55 M.P.H.
• At 60 M.P.H., the force of impact is 4 times greater than at 30 M.P.H.
• At higher speeds, any unsecure item in your car can become a deadly projectile.

Do you ever notice that when you're driving, anyone going slower than you is an idiot and everyone driving faster than you is a maniac?

The road equivalent of Time Out.

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All Improv Traffic School courses are DMV and/or court-approved for online Traffic School and Online Defensive Driving. Many commercial fleets use our Defensive Driving courses in California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, New Jersey and New York. Some of our most popular programs include: California Online Traffic School, for the CA Court System; Florida DMV Traffic School - Basic Driver Improvement; Georgia court-approved defensive driving course; Idaho DMV Defensive Driving Course; New Jersey DMV Defensive Driving Program; NYS DMV Defensive Driving Program.