Speeding: Some Real Facts!
I used to be a speedster a few years ago. I also enjoyed the adrenaline rush while cutting the ’suckers’ behind. I would always think that not only I was having some fun by thrilling myself and the person(s) in the passenger seat(s), but also I was actually saving a lot of time! The real fact: I was not! Neither was I having fun, nor saving a lot of time.
I did a reality check when I got a speeding ticket while I was driving twenty miles over the posted limit and a warning while driving eight miles over the limit. Some people need a big shock to realize something: the ticket and the warning were probably my eye-openers.
Let’s focus on the illusion about saving time. We generally come across three kinds of situation in our life – case 1: short distance driving (driving to the workplace ~ 20 miles), case 2: medium distance driving (driving to the nearby city (~50 miles), and case 3: driving long distance (~200miles)
Case 1: Short-distance (20 miles) driving (We can safely assume that the speed limit is 40 mph because you’ll be driving within a city)
| Speed (mph) | Speed over the limit (mph) | Time required (minute) | Time saved (minute) |
| 40 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| 45 | 5 | 27 | 3 |
| 50 | 10 | 24 | 6 |
| 60 | 20 | 20 | 10 |
Even if we assume that you can beat the lights, I don’t think you can drive 20 mph over the limit in the heavy city traffic during the office hour. You’ll be risking a ticket in order to save just 10 minutes! Does it worth the risk?
Case 2: Medium distance (50 miles) driving (assuming you are driving on the freeway, speed limit 70 mph)
| Speed (mph) | Speed over the limit (mph) | Time required (minute) | Time saved (minute) |
| 70 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| 75 | 5 | 40 | 3 |
| 80 | 10 | 37.5 | 5.5 |
| 90 | 20 | 33 | 10 |
This also does not look good: if you are driving 20 mph over the speed limit at a constant speed (meaning you may have to make up for slower traffic, bad road condition, bad weather, etc, by driving even faster!), you will just save 10 minutes. You may again want to ask yourself: does it worth the risk?
Case 3: Long-distance (200 miles) driving (assuming you are driving on the freeway, speed limit 70 mph)
| Speed (mph) | Speed over the limit (mph) | Time required (minute) | Time saved (minute) |
| 70 | 0 | 171 | 0 |
| 75 | 5 | 160 | 11 |
| 80 | 10 | 150 | 21 |
| 90 | 20 | 133 | 38 |
Hmm, the last one looks good! But do you understand that all the cops must be sleeping if you get away with driving 20 mph over the posted limit for more than two hours at a stretch? In this case also, you may have to make up for slowing down due to slower traffic, bad road condition, bad weather, etc which will require you to drive faster than 90 mph at times!
Now let’s look at the risks of getting a ticket:
- 0-5 mph over the limit- you’ll probably be fine
- 5-10 mph over the limit -you may get a warning (it could be a ticket too!)
- 10-15 mph over – a ticket (if you are not careful enough!)
- More than 15 mph over the limit - a ticket, for sure (if you are not lucky enough)
But it’s not about getting a ticket. Have you ever considered that how much risk you are putting your life into by driving over 10 mph over the limit? What happens if the driver in the car just in front of you applies his brakes all of a sudden (because he realized that he should take the exit that he was about to miss) while you were driving at 85 mph in the freeway?
Let’s talk about the fun part that I mentioned in the beginning. The main reason one drives faster than the limit is because he’s late (I don’t think he’s in a fun mood then). If you do it in order to feel your adrenaline rush, then I don’t think you can enjoy the fun that we find in the very simplest of the things in life!
Let’s summarize all the financial risks here (so that you know for sure what may come on your way):
- Accident and risk of life
- Fuel: cost of increased consumption
As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
- Tickets: monetary loss
- Increase in auto insurance rate: more monetary loss
- Lost peace of mind.
Do you need any more reason for not willing to become a Michael Schumaker on the road?
| Read more: Money, Matter, and More Musings |
Actually, you should consider safety as a part of your risk assessment in speeding. Of course, you are aware that there are numerous studies which have shown that driving 5 MPH over 85th percentile speed is the safest statistical speed possible? And you are aware that this is so recognized that there is now a required standard in the US Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices which states speed limits must be posted based on the 85th percentile speed?
So, knowing that the speed limit *should* be posted based on the 85th percentile speed… ask yourself this important question. Should you drive at the posted limit or at the 85th percentile speed, when the two are not the same?
Of course, we can look at every freeway and road in the United States. And see that they are *ALL* posted to a speed limit defined by a statute. Not to a limit based on the 85th percentile speed. Since the speed limit is most often posted far lower than the safest speed, the 85th percentile speed, would you sacrifice your safety and your time saved, simply because a sign shows you should drive slower?
Speed limits are posted to maximize revenue, not to increase safety. So, do you drive in a manner to increase your safety? Or do you obey the posted limit and increase your risk of death?