Does speed kill or not.

[motorman587]

I am an AARP driver safety program instructor. We had an update today and received a Florida Supplement work book. On page K under the heading "Effect of speed on impact", I thougth about this fourm and some of the topics about speed. It continued with, Speed influences the risk of crashes and crash injuries in three basic ways.

1. It increases the distance a vehicle travels from the time a driver detects an emergency to the time the driver reacts.

2. It increases the distance needed to stop a vehicle once an emergency is preceived.

3. It increases the crash energy by the square of the speed. When impact speed increases from 40 to 60 mph (a 50 percent increase), the energy that needs to be managed increases by 125 percent.

So does speed kill or not??

[DaveDragon]

Nope!
It's sudden deceleration sickness that killshttp://www.bmwlt.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

The more energy you carry the less room for error you have.

[grifscoots]

It's like spoons make people fat, or guns kill. I think it's wholy up to the operator of the vehicle if they kill themselves or not by being idjuts.

[petepeterson]

Speed can be a factor, but most killings are from not paying attention while driving....
Making left turns, running stop signs or traffic lights, cause most deaths,,, speeding causes a relatively small percentage of accidents....

Would be willing to bet real money if law enforcement took a year and focused on people at intersections that turn in front of people, or don't use turn signal when turning, or focused on people pulling onto the road without stopping or looking..... or stop those who zoom around right turns at traffic lights that the deaths across the nation would drop allot......

There are lots of things that kill on the road,, speed just isn't real high up on the list,,,Just my opinion which has a high probability of being wrong.........Pete

[motorman587]

Speed can be a factor, but most killings are from not paying attention while driving....
Making left turns, running stop signs or traffic lights, cause most deaths,,, speeding causes a relatively small percentage of accidents....

Would be willing to bet real money if law enforcement took a year and focused on people at intersections that turn in front of people, or don't use turn signal when turning, or focused on people pulling onto the road without stopping or looking..... or stop those who zoom around right turns at traffic lights.....

There are lots of things that kill on the road,, speed just isn't real high up on the list,,,Just my opinion which has a high probability of being wrong.........Pete



But if someone failed to yield your right of way, which one would be more likely to survive. A 35 mph impact or at 70 mph??????

[bob_menton]

The safest speed to ride at, is the same speed that most other vehicles are doing. If the relatively arbitrary number on the sign on the side of the road says "50 mph speed limit" and most folks are doing 70, then 70 is your safest speed.

And if someone failed to yield right of way to me, my safest speed at that moment would be 1 mph. So shall we make all the speed limits 1 mph?

- Bob

[motorman587]

The safest speed to ride at, is the same speed that most other vehicles are doing. If the relatively arbitrary number on the sign on the side of the road says "50 mph speed limit" and most folks are doing 70, then 70 is your safest speed.

And if someone failed to yield right of way to me, my safest speed at that moment would be 1 mph. So shall we make all the speed limits 1 mph?

- Bob

Somebody failed to yield and I needed to brake hard, at which speed with reaction time would I be more able to reach the impact speed of 1 mph??? At a lower speed I would be more able to survive a crash.

[messenger13]

Show me a LEO, and I'll show you a speeder! :D On duty ... and OFF duty. I have too many friends and relatives that are LEOs. They all have lead feet!!!


But really folks...

"Fast" is a relative term. As is "reaction time".


Besides...I think surviving my next crash is WAY over-rated! :eek: So there. I said it.

[grifscoots]

The safest speed to ride at, is the same speed that most other vehicles are doing. If the relatively arbitrary number on the sign on the side of the road says "50 mph speed limit" and most folks are doing 70, then 70 is your safest speed.

And if someone failed to yield right of way to me, my safest speed at that moment would be 1 mph. So shall we make all the speed limits 1 mph?

- BobUnless you're on a bike. I always go a bit (bit being relative) faster than traffic.

[Florian]

differential speed kills....

F

[RDAWG]

Speed can be a factor, but most killings are from not paying attention while driving....
Making left turns, running stop signs or traffic lights, cause most deaths,,, speeding causes a relatively small percentage of accidents....

Would be willing to bet real money if law enforcement took a year and focused on people at intersections that turn in front of people, or don't use turn signal when turning, or focused on people pulling onto the road without stopping or looking..... or stop those who zoom around right turns at traffic lights that the deaths across the nation would drop allot......

There are lots of things that kill on the road,, speed just isn't real high up on the list,,,Just my opinion which has a high probability of being wrong.........Pete


It may not be the speed but the sudden stopping that kills! But, yes - Speed is the number one PCF (Primary Collision Factor) ..... Unsafe Speed for Conditions. Outnumbers all others.

[brianbeemer]

If I'm drifting along at 1mph and increase my speed by 100% to 2mph to a dawdle what is the increased likelihood that someone will be killed if I bump into them?

Speed does not kill. The inappropriate use of a speed higher than is safe for the prevailing situation will create conditions in which there may be an increased danger to life. Try putting that sentence into a catchy billboard phrase, though....

[sanjaun2]

It's like spoons make people fat, or guns kill. I think it's wholy up to the operator of the vehicle if they kill themselves or not by being idjuts.
Once again Grif took the words out of my mouth. But I must add that if some idiot pulls out in front of me the extra speed does increase my odds of injury or worse. But as a adult I am okay with that risk.

[petepeterson]

But if someone failed to yield your right of way, which one would be more likely to survive. A 35 mph impact or at 70 mph??????



On a motorcycle at those speeds, God will decide whether or not you live....Pete

[petepeterson]

It may not be the speed but the sudden stopping that kills! But, yes - Speed is the number one PCF (Primary Collision Factor) ..... Unsafe Speed for Conditions. Outnumbers all others.


By your reasoning doing 26mph in a 25mph zone, then speed would be the factor for the accident.... Well it wouldn't be..........The primary cause would be the person not yielding........Speed would have no contributing factor in the accident.....Pete

[myk_edwards]

The inappropriate use of a speed Kills!

Ride/Drive to the conditions.

[dandiver]

That's a mouthful, but it really depend what is happening around you and the amount of time it will take you to either act or react. If you are going too fast for conditions, then you must react and the excess speed will be a problem. If you are able to act, then it won't matter. My gut feeling is that if I am reacting, I'm going too fast and something unanticipated occurred. If I act, I'm in control and not going too fast. The faster you are going, the less time you have to act/react and higher speed can be uncomfortable.

[Lynn_Keen]

The original Question was "So does speed kill or not??"

1. I think we can pretty much agree that speed alone does not kill. If it did, the Bonneville Salt Flats would most likely be littered with dead bodies.

2. I also believe we can agree that a crash is not caused by a single factor but is always the result of a combination of factors.

3. So the real question is, if your speeding and are involved in a crash are your odds of dying greater that if you were traveling at or below the posted speed limit? I'm pretty sure that most of us would agree that the answer would be YES. The sudden stop from 100 mph is gona do a lot more damage than one from 25 mph.

Seems pretty simple to me, but then of course I've been accused of being simple minded!! :~)

[motorman587]

The original Question was "So does speed kill or not??"

1. I think we can pretty much agree that speed alone does not kill. If it did, the Bonneville Salt Flats would most likely be littered with dead bodies.

2. I also believe we can agree that a crash is not caused by a single factor but is always the result of a combination of factors.

3. So the real question is, if your speeding and are involved in a crash are your odds of dying greater that if you were traveling at or below the posted speed limit? I'm pretty sure that most of us would agree that the answer would be YES. The sudden stop from 100 mph is gona do a lot more damage than one from 25 mph.

Seems pretty simple to me, but then of course I've been accused of being simple minded!! :~)



So to be simple we have speed limits.

[pkpr1998]

The original Question was "So does speed kill or not??"

1. I think we can pretty much agree that speed alone does not kill. If it did, the Bonneville Salt Flats would most likely be littered with dead bodies.

2. I also believe we can agree that a crash is not caused by a single factor but is always the result of a combination of factors.

3. So the real question is, if your speeding and are involved in a crash are your odds of dying greater that if you were traveling at or below the posted speed limit? I'm pretty sure that most of us would agree that the answer would be YES. The sudden stop from 100 mph is gona do a lot more damage than one from 25 mph.

Seems pretty simple to me, but then of course I've been accused of being simple minded!! :~)

simple-minded :histerica

I agree, but if you are "headed" for a crash I would rather hit them at a 100 BECAUSE before you die you would at least feel like you have been on thrill ride! :eek:

[RDAWG]

By your reasoning doing 26mph in a 25mph zone, then speed would be the factor for the accident.... Well it wouldn't be..........The primary cause would be the person not yielding........Speed would have no contributing factor in the accident.....Pete

Pete
It's not my reasoning, its the facts. In your example it may be a right of way violation. I was not refering to all accidents being caused by speed, but, the majority of them are......its speed for the conditions present. A violation of the posted speed is not always the case. Check the facts on a state level or federal and you will find that to be the case.

[petepeterson]

Pete
It's not my reasoning, its the facts. In your example it may be a right of way violation. I was not refering to all accidents being caused by speed, but, the majority of them are......its speed for the conditions present. A violation of the posted speed is not always the case. Check the facts on a state level or federal and you will find that to be the case.


Ok :) We shall agree to disagree,,, ""its speed for the conditions" means any movement could be considered speeding with regard to the accident.....Honest more people would be alive if law enforcement would stop with the revenue chasing with speeders and follow the causes of deadly accidents...............

[Lynn_Keen]

simple-minded :histerica

I agree, :
Now that was uncalled for. Didn't yor MOMA ever teach you to respect your elders?

[motorman587]

On a motorcycle at those speeds, God will decide whether or not you live....Pete


I guess God spoke....................


http://www.local6.com/slideshow/news/15144748/detail.html



Was this speed or driver error that caused the crash??

[hschisler]

I guess God spoke....................
http://www.local6.com/slideshow/news/15144748/detail.html
Was this speed or driver error that caused the crash??They were on an airstrip... at 3:30 a.m. ... and fell 85' to the ground below?

I think lots of things contributed to 5 senseless deaths: speed, stupidity, and immaturity come to mind. If they had been going 5 mph and drove off the elevated airstrip the outcome MIGHT have been different.

Still, I see your point.

[hoog62]

Was this speed or driver error that caused the crash??


Whiskey bottle, brand new car, oak tree you're in my way....

[pkpr1998]

Now that was uncalled for. Didn't yor MOMA ever teach you to respect your elders?

She did, but I have been out of the house for so long that I have reverted and have forgotten those "golden" rules!

CYA in a few months you old dog! :p

[brianbeemer]

simple-minded :histerica

I agree, but if you are "headed" for a crash I would rather hit them at a 100 BECAUSE before you die you would at least feel like you have been on thrill ride! :eek:
But what's the point of that? You'd not remember the ride and wouldn't be able to brag about it either....

[pkpr1998]

But what's the point of that? You'd not remember the ride and wouldn't be able to brag about it either....

It would be hard to post a wreck like that!