Speeding And Stopping Tips

Speeding

Drive at a comfortable speed.

Cruising at higher speeds produces a satisfying sense of getting somewhere fast. As acceleration leads to speed, some peculiar perceptual distortions occur.

Normally we take in signals from an arc of about 160 degrees, but at high speeds the effective arc is very much reduced. This is because the brain cannot cope with some rapidly changing signals coming from the eyes. What it does is to ignore the information coming from the edges of the visual field where the world is changing most quickly. Side vision distorts to just a meaningless blur as the brain concentrates on what it really needs to know. The direct consequence of these perceptual changes is a kind of tunnel vision. The road in front is clear. Everything else is effectively lost. In this state it is difficult to anticipate any hazards.

The impact force of a collision at 50 km/h is the equivalent to the vehicle falling from a 3 storey building, but at double the speed, 100 km/h, it is as if the vehicle dropped from a 12 storey building. Tests have shown that in a 60 km/h collision, a 15 kilogram child (the approximate weight of a 3 year old) produces the equivalent force of 550 kilograms.

Stopping distance increases proportionally with your car speed.

It is best to avoid driving at higher speeds. You should drive at safer speed, suitable to the road conditions. Optimum fuel efficiency is achieved at 50 - 60 km/h speeds. At 80 km/h your car is consuming an avoidable 30% extra fuel.
At slower speeds you get substantial time to react to unexpected actions of other drivers and pedestrians and to ever-changing factors like light, weather, road and traffic conditions.

Stopping

Indicate your intention to stop. First slow down and then stop.

Don't stop your car by applying brakes abruptly unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. Most people fail the driving test because they do not know how to stop.

While stopping your car, you need to indicate your intention to stop. Slow down your car and pull over as close to the left of the road as possible, before stopping.

You can endanger pedestrians and other vehicles by abruptly opening the doors of a stopped car.

Several accidents happen when a vehicle in front suddenly slows down or stops. While moving behind another vehicle you are required to maintain a safe distance from that vehicle.

Drivers mostly tend to underestimate the minimum distance required to stop their cars. This is because of the lag experienced in between the time you see danger, and the time at which you react or respond.

A good driver is always alert and measuring risks even when there are none. The driver does not indulge in day dreaming or distracting conversations. Even a momentary lapse in concentration can result in an accident.

Wear a seat belt and ask your co-passengers to use them too.