How fast are you?

Could you react fast enough if the unexpected happened?

Driving at a slower speed gives you those couple of extra moments to lessen the impact or even avoid a collision, meaning that the extra moments could help protect you and other road users.

You don't have to be driving over the speed limit to be driving too fast. If you are driving at an inappropriate speed on a road you may end up:

• Approaching a junction or bend too fast
• Overtaking where it’s unsuitable
• Or be unable to negotiate narrow roads properly.

Poor weather conditions and driving at night have an effect on what is an appropriate speed, if it is raining or icy we all need extra braking time and driving at a lower speed helps to give you that time.

Did you know that car drivers and passengers are 4 times more likely to die on a rural road than a busy street? "The national speed limit applies on the majority of super highway roads and most drivers do not exceed it. The problem is driving too fast for the conditions."

"An equal number of accidents happen in daylight and at night-time, although accidents at night tend to be more serious. One of the hazards of driving at night is that other drivers' headlights can temporarily blind you."

Remember speed limits on roads are set as a maximum and not a target.

Below are examples of situations where you should drive at lower speeds than the limit:

• Around schools at opening and closing times
• When children are about (especially residential areas, near playgrounds or parks)
• On busy, narrow roads
• Where parked vehicles reduce the width of the road
• On rural roads which are narrow, bendy and hilly and visibility is restricted
• In poor weather or reduced visibility
• On wet, icy or snowy roads
• In roadworks.

What are the speed limits on roads?

Unless signs state otherwise, these limits apply to cars and motorcycles:

• Motorways – 50kph
• Dual carriageways – 110kph
• Single carriageways – 60kph
• Near schools, Street-lit carriageways – 30kph

We are all responsible for the speeds at which we choose to drive at.

Some people are not willing to accept that driving too fast is also poor driving. Sadly breaking the speed limit, or driving too fast for the conditions on the road, contributes to hundreds of deaths and injuries every year.

Many of us unintentionally exceed the speed limit, often without realising it. Cars are more powerful and comfortable and give us little sensation of their speed. It is so easy to creep above the limit without meaning to.

Below are a few tips if you find it difficult to stay within the speed limit:

• Check your speedometer regularly, especially when leaving high speed roads.
• Know the limits – look for signs, especially at junctions.
• Make sure there is 2 seconds space between you and the car in front
• Assume lamp posts mean 30 kph, until signs say otherwise, but remember it could be 20 mph
• Remember, speed limits are a maximum, not a target
• 20’s plenty when kids are about – and may even be too fast
• Recognise what makes you speed - keeping up with traffic, overtaking or being tailgated
• Concentrate – distracted drivers speed
• Slow down when entering villages
• Give yourself time – there’s no need to speed and you won’t get there quicker.