Speed limits are there for a reason: a person driving at 35mph is twice as likely to kill someone as if they were going at 30mph or less, and the stopping distance at 35mph is 21 feet longer than it is at 30mph.

Speeding really does cost lives – 1,000 people are killed every year as a result of speeding and another 6,000 are seriously injured. If a collision happens when someone is speeding, it is more likely to lead to injuries or deaths.

Unfortunately, today’s vehicles are so powerful that it is sometimes very easy to exceed the speed limit, even when you are trying to be careful. Here are some simple ways to prevent those times when your speed might start to edge over the limit, and tips on how to be extra cautious at times when accidents might otherwise be more likely.

1. When children are playing nearby, don’t go beyond 20 mph, and preferably go as slowly as possible

A child is killed on the road about every other day. Roads are more dangerous to children for a number of reasons. Children are less aware of the dangers of traffic and less able to judge the speed vehicles are travelling at, and they are more likely to be distracted and, for example, follow a lost ball into the road.

These things are inevitable, but drivers can reduce the likelihood of a child sustaining a serious or fatal injury by ensuring that they drive extremely slowly in areas where children might be playing or crossing the road.

2. If the limit is 30mph, don’t go above 3rd gear

This can be a useful principle to prevent yourself speeding. Travelling in 3rd gear makes it easier to tell if your speed is over 30mph.

3. Remember that speed limits are not a target, they are a maximum

Speed limits are a maximum, and sometimes you need to drive quite a bit slower than the limit to be safe. Examples include when there is poor weather or ice on the road, busy, narrow roads, roadworks, schools at opening or closing time, or any area with children, and bendy roads with reduced visibility.

4. Don’t get distracted on the road, distracted drivers speed

Driving may have become second nature to you, but it is actually a very complex thing to do. Loud music can be a distraction, as can attempting to do anything else with your hands, such as using a mobile phone, unwrapping a sweet or lighting a cigarette.

5. When entering a village, slow down

As soon as you enter a populated area you are likely to come across more junctions, as well as cyclists, pedestrians and slow-moving vehicles. You may need to slow down more than you would think to guard against all these potential hazards.

6. Know the speed limits by looking out for signs, particularly at road junctions

Don’t just rely on the type of road you are on as a guide. In urban areas, for example, dual carriageways can have a limit of 30mph.

7. Check your speedometer at regular intervals, particularly after leaving the motorway

Modern cars are smooth so it can feel as though you’re driving more slowly than you really are. That’s why you need to consciously check your speed more often, especially when going from a main road to a smaller one.

8. Give yourself plenty of time to get from one place to another and don’t make up for lost time by driving more quickly

Your journey time won’t be much shorter if you exceed the speed limit. Overall time to complete a journey is usually affected more heavily by the number of junctions and other obstacles you come across along the way. Making sure you have plenty of time to complete the journey will help you to relax and reduce the likelihood of speeding.

9. Try and work out what usually makes you speed, like being tailgated or overtaking, and watch out for it

If you have been caught for speeding at some time, perhaps you can remember what made you speed, and work out what your common triggers might be. Recognising these triggers and avoiding them should also make driving less stressful.

10. Assume that lamp posts mean the road is 30mph, unless signs say otherwise. Beware that it may be 20mph

The Highway Code advises drivers that street lights normally mean the limit is 30mph, unless signs specify otherwise.

About the Author:
National Accident Helpline are specialists in car accident claims. Our solicitors help victims of car injuries, such as car accident whiplash, make a claim for personal injury.

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