Excessive speed is the main cause in one third of all accidents and collisions occurring on the road, according to recent research, conducted by the OECD’s Transportation Sector, which shows that speed limits are directly related to the rates of mortality and serious injury resulting from road accidents.
Excessive speed and the urban network
According to a study conducted by the OECD’s Transport Sector, the mistaken impression that stepping on the accelerator and increasing speed will reduce travel time is a completely false one. It has been proven that the presence of traffic lights and junctions will not permit the shortening of travel times within the urban network, even if traveling speed is increased, while the capacity of motorways in urban areas will not allow for speeds in excess of 70 km/hour.
Data you should be aware of:
- A 5% increase in the speed of a vehicle leads to a 10% increase in the number of traffic accidents and a 20% increase in the number of crashes causing death or serious injury.
- According to an OECD study, if a vehicle moving at 50 km/hour hits a pedestrian, the probability that the pedestrian will be fatally injured reaches 80%, while if the vehicle is travelling at 30 km/hour, the corresponding risk falls to 10%.
- It is estimated that the driver of a vehicle travelling at a speed in excess of 50 km/hour, will have no chance of survival in case of a sideways collision on the driver’s side, while in case of a head-on collision, the driver and passengers will have a chance of survival only if speed does not exceed 70 km/hour.
Excessive speed on trunk road network
Due to high speeds, road accidents occurring on the trunk road network have the most adverse consequences. In Greece, approximately one third of the deaths caused by road accidents are the result of accidents on the national trunk road network.
Always abide by the speed limits
Speed limits have been calculated based on many parameters that you are most probably not aware of.
However, your speed should be even lower than the speed limit, in cases where:
- Roadworks are in progress.
- There are pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists on the road.
- Weather conditions are bad.
- Lighting is bad.