What Are the Eight Major Hazards of Speeding?

[StSavannah]

Eight major hazards are as follows:1. When speeding, drivers cannot fully and accurately perceive changes inside and outside the vehicle: For example, when a car travels at 50 km/h, it advances 1.39 meters in 0.1 second, and objects outside the window pass by in a flash. However, it takes 0.4 seconds for a person to sense a target within their field of vision and an average of 1 second to clearly see an object. If the speed is too high, it becomes difficult to obtain sufficient road information, increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents.2. Speeding weakens a driver's spatial awareness: The faster the speed, the farther the focus point. At speeds above 50 km/h, the focus point is often 305-601 meters ahead. Due to the forward shift of the focus point, the field of vision narrows, clarity deteriorates, and it becomes difficult to recognize small or slowly changing objects. By the time they are noticed, it may be too late to react.3. When speeding, a driver's ability to judge speed declines: When driving at high speeds, drivers not only misjudge their own vehicle's speed but also underestimate the speed of pedestrians, non-motorized vehicles, and other motor vehicles. When overtaking another vehicle, they may underestimate the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles, as well as the required overtaking distance. This often leads to delayed reactions, increasing the risk of collisions or side-swipe accidents.4. Speeding increases driver fatigue and reduces reaction time: Speeding leads to more frequent overtaking and meeting situations, shortening the distance between vehicles. The overwhelming flow of external information consumes significant mental and physical energy, requiring frequent shifts in attention, which can lead to fatigue. Over time, drowsiness may set in, significantly increasing the risk of accidents.5. Speeding can sometimes cause errors in a driver's judgment: When making decisions, drivers rely not only on perceived information but also on experience-based analysis and judgment. In the event of an unexpected situation while speeding, even decisive action requires time for consideration.6. Speeding affects a vehicle's handling stability: Speeding deteriorates a vehicle's handling stability, especially when driving on curves. Due to centrifugal force, the vehicle is prone to skidding or tilting outward from the turning center. Excessive centrifugal force makes the vehicle extremely difficult to control and may even lead to loss of control. If driving on roads with low friction coefficients, this may result in skidding or collisions; on roads with high friction coefficients, it may cause rollovers or other accidents.7. Speeding increases braking distance: A vehicle's braking distance increases with speed. When speeding, the braking distance can be significantly longer than usual, making rear-end collisions or crashes into structures more likely.8. Speeding affects a vehicle's safety performance: Speeding disrupts the vehicle's performance indices under specific conditions, increasing its operational intensity and load, and accelerating wear and tear on components. This is particularly detrimental to the tires, causing not only jump and drag-slip wear but also raising friction temperatures, leading to rapid aging and deformation of the tires, which can result in blowouts.

[DeLena]

I remember I used to love driving fast, thinking it would save time, but after an incident, I realized how dangerous it was. First, speeding drastically increases the risk of accidents—on sharp turns or slippery roads, the car can easily lose control and roll over. Second, if a crash happens, the impact is much greater, leading to more severe injuries to bones or internal organs. Third, reaction time shortens, making it harder to notice road conditions before a collision. Fourth, braking distance lengthens, often requiring dozens of meters to stop, which frequently causes rear-end collisions. Fifth, vehicle stability worsens, with the steering wheel feeling light and hard to control. Sixth, fuel burns much faster, costing hundreds more per month on gas. Seventh, parts like brake pads wear out faster, driving up repair costs. Eighth, fines and points add up, and your license could even be suspended. Since that lesson, I’ve kept my speed within the limit—safety comes first, and life has been smoother since.