Heed Your Speed - Two Views Of Speed Kills
When I used to teach Driver Education, I would often comment to my students about speed and safety. Along with that, while we were out driving on the highway, I might ask them how many vehicles were in front of us. The reply was usually, “None” (picking the time to ask the question was crucial). Then the question asked would be to ask the student how many vehicles were behind us. “A lot”, was the response most used. At this point we would quickly discuss the reasons for all the vehicles behind us (no, they are not scared of the sign that says Student Driver), why there are none in front of us, and courses of action can we do to help alleviate the situation.
As you may have already guessed, we were travelling along much slower than the flow of traffic behind us wanted. It is a good thing that we could not read the minds of those drivers behind us, as what they may have been thinking, such as “speed up” or “pull over and get the heck out of the way”, just to pick a few nicer thoughts they may have had.
A term I used to use for my students, and today for those whom will listen, is Heed Your Speed”. While most of us have become familiar over the years with the slogan “Speed Kills”, I would like to look at this from two sides.
Speed Kills – by lack of speed!
While traveling along below the posted speed limit (say 100 km/h) allows the driver / rider more time to enjoy the trip or make adjustments to reaction time, braking patterns, etc. for their own driving abilities, it can create a chain reaction to those vehicles following behind.
Even if you are close to, or at the speed limit, given that the weather, road, and vehicle conditions are all satisfactory, one has to be aware (there’s that rider awareness thing again) of what is going on all around you, especially if you are checking your rear view consistently and noting the number of vehicles following you continues to grow. The drivers of those vehicles may be getting frustrated and want to get by you as they obviously were travelling faster than you. Many accidents have occurred when a car pulls out to pass a string of vehicles created by a slower moving vehicle at the beginning. The ensuing collision, while not excusing the driver whom pulled out to pass, was helped along by the unsuspecting driver in the front whom may have been oblivious to the chain reaction of events that could be attributed to causing the accident.
If in the case of being that rider / driver seemingly holding up traffic, please choose to take stress off yourself and those behind you, and either speed up to the posted limit if the circumstances allow, or pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, and let them by.
Oh, yes, if you are on a multi-lane highway and are riding slower than the surrounding traffic, please get in the right hand lane. It is much safer for you to have vehicles pass you on the left hand side, the normal passing side in North America, and if you live in Ontario, the posted signs ask that slower traffic use right lane.
Speed Kills – by too much speed!
We have all read reports or have seen what too much speed can do and the issues surrounding it. Yes, too much speed (for road conditions, vehicle conditions, the rider / drivers abilities, and also the unknown factors that can occur, such as a deer, moose, or skunk in the road) can, and do cause far too many accidents each year. Although I do not have the hard data to back it up, I believe the accidents caused by excessive speed worked in conjunction with rider /driver inattention, and more importantly, a rider /driver exceeding their own skill set.
I always taught my students to keep their heads up and look down the road at least 12 – 14 seconds, and be aware of “the big picture”, that is, what you can clearly focus on down the road. In addition, your peripheral vision changes as you concentrate more on what’s ahead of you.
As you may have already guessed, we were travelling along much slower than the flow of traffic behind us wanted. It is a good thing that we could not read the minds of those drivers behind us, as what they may have been thinking, such as “speed up” or “pull over and get the heck out of the way”, just to pick a few nicer thoughts they may have had.
A term I used to use for my students, and today for those whom will listen, is Heed Your Speed”. While most of us have become familiar over the years with the slogan “Speed Kills”, I would like to look at this from two sides.
Speed Kills – by lack of speed!
While traveling along below the posted speed limit (say 100 km/h) allows the driver / rider more time to enjoy the trip or make adjustments to reaction time, braking patterns, etc. for their own driving abilities, it can create a chain reaction to those vehicles following behind.
Even if you are close to, or at the speed limit, given that the weather, road, and vehicle conditions are all satisfactory, one has to be aware (there’s that rider awareness thing again) of what is going on all around you, especially if you are checking your rear view consistently and noting the number of vehicles following you continues to grow. The drivers of those vehicles may be getting frustrated and want to get by you as they obviously were travelling faster than you. Many accidents have occurred when a car pulls out to pass a string of vehicles created by a slower moving vehicle at the beginning. The ensuing collision, while not excusing the driver whom pulled out to pass, was helped along by the unsuspecting driver in the front whom may have been oblivious to the chain reaction of events that could be attributed to causing the accident.
If in the case of being that rider / driver seemingly holding up traffic, please choose to take stress off yourself and those behind you, and either speed up to the posted limit if the circumstances allow, or pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, and let them by.
Oh, yes, if you are on a multi-lane highway and are riding slower than the surrounding traffic, please get in the right hand lane. It is much safer for you to have vehicles pass you on the left hand side, the normal passing side in North America, and if you live in Ontario, the posted signs ask that slower traffic use right lane.
Speed Kills – by too much speed!
We have all read reports or have seen what too much speed can do and the issues surrounding it. Yes, too much speed (for road conditions, vehicle conditions, the rider / drivers abilities, and also the unknown factors that can occur, such as a deer, moose, or skunk in the road) can, and do cause far too many accidents each year. Although I do not have the hard data to back it up, I believe the accidents caused by excessive speed worked in conjunction with rider /driver inattention, and more importantly, a rider /driver exceeding their own skill set.
I always taught my students to keep their heads up and look down the road at least 12 – 14 seconds, and be aware of “the big picture”, that is, what you can clearly focus on down the road. In addition, your peripheral vision changes as you concentrate more on what’s ahead of you.
The faster you go, the less peripheral vision you have because you concentrate more up front, and stop moving yours eyes from side to side, or to check your rear view mirror. This is one of the major reasons why speed kills! Lack of Awareness around you and what lies ahead!
People may not agree with all written here, but one cannot argue that no matter what the speed, accidents can occur, accidents can be avoided, and as riders we need to be fully aware of what is around us, what is ahead of us, and all the conditions necessary (road surface, mechanics of bike, our own abilities) to make each ride safe and enjoyable.
If you want to ride really fast, head to the track where you can experience those speeds on a "controlled roadway" and see just how small your area of focus can really become. And if you want to ride slow, choose a secondary highway to do so and be prepared to 'yield the lead" so that others may enjoy their journey too.
If you want to ride really fast, head to the track where you can experience those speeds on a "controlled roadway" and see just how small your area of focus can really become. And if you want to ride slow, choose a secondary highway to do so and be prepared to 'yield the lead" so that others may enjoy their journey too.