There鈥檚 something about the rush of racing. Whether it鈥檚 watching a thrilling NASCAR event or getting the most laps at a go-kart听track 鈥� winning feels good.听
But听the road听is not your听racetrack听and听making like听Ricky Bobby听on real life streets听won鈥檛 win you any trophies听or corporate sponsorships.听You鈥檙e听much听more likely to end up with an听expensive ticket,听costly demerits and even听getting your vehicle seized for an extended, involuntary听pit stop. (Did you know that the ticket for 鈥渆ngaging in a contest of speed鈥� includes a听an automatic听30-day听impoundment?)
Even if you don鈥檛听get caught by police,听excessive speed increases your risk of a severe collision that wrecks your vehicle, or even worse,听injures听or听kills听you or听other road users.听听
The April Traffic Safety Spotlight is on speeding.
Excessive speed is one the leading factors in traffic-related deaths and injuries on Saskatchewan鈥檚 roads. In 2019,听454听people听were injured, and听nine听were killed in Saskatchewan in collisions where speeding was a factor.听听
鈥淧osted speed limits are not suggestions, and driving is not about who gets there first 鈥� it鈥檚 about making sure everyone gets there, and gets there safely,鈥� said Penny McCune, COO of the Auto Fund.听听
Since speeding affects your control and reaction time, you鈥檙e more likely to get in a collision at higher speeds. And the faster you鈥檙e going, the more severe the collision is going to be.听
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists
With the weather getting warmer, there will soon be more people听sharing the road with motor vehicles, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.听That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 even more important to mind your speed.听听
All of听these road users are smaller and less protected than motor vehicles, and the likelihood of a severe injury听is significantly higher if a collision occurs.听听
We all听have to听do our part to keep each other safe.听
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