Stopping distances
Speeding is dangerous because the faster you go, the longer your stopping distance and the harder you hit. Australian research^ has shown that the risk of a serious crash doubles with a 5km speed increase on 60km urban roads or with a 10km increase on rural highways.
In an emergency, the average driver takes about 1.5 seconds to react.
Stopping distances increase exponentially the faster you go (see graph below).
Stopping distances can be affected by:
- your experience and age
- average deceleration of your car
- the condition and braking capacity of your car
- the condition of the tyres
- weather conditions
- road surface
- the weight of the vehicle.
^Kloeden CN, McLean AJ and Glonek G, 2002. Reanalysis of travelling speed and the risk of crash involvement in Adelaide South Australia, report CR 207, ATSB, Canberra. Kloeden CN, Ponte G and McLean AJ, 2001. Travelling speed and the risk of crash involvement on rural roads, report CR 204, ATSB, Canberra.
