Speeding - the facts

Speeding is a major factor in crashes that cause serious injury and death. Speeding doesn’t just mean driving above the speed limit, it means driving too fast for the conditions.

The gist of it
  • The severity of injuries resulting from a crash is directly related to the speed of the vehicle at the time of impact. This applies whether or not speeding was a factor in the crash.
  • The faster you go, the harder you hit.
  • When a vehicle crashes, it undergoes a rapid change of speed. However, the occupants inside the car keep moving at the speed the vehicle was travelling at until they are stopped by hitting an object (steering wheel, door, seat in front) or by being restrained by a safety belt.
  • Even after the occupant has stopped moving inside the vehicle, their internal organs still move, colliding with other organs and the skeletal system.

The Issue - As your speed increases:

  • The distance you need to bring your vehicle to a stop increases.
  • There is greater probability that your will be going too fast to adjust to unexpected changes in road conditions such as a bend, or hazards such as a child running onto the road.
  • You are more likely to lose control of your vehicle (e.g. on curves).
  • There is a greater likelihood that other drivers will misjudge how fast you are travelling.

Calling the shots - The speed you travel needs to take into account more than just the speed limit. Also consider:

  • Traffic conditions: heavy traffic, pedestrians, cyclists
  • Road conditions: uneven surfaces, gravel, windy roads, roadworks
  • Weather conditions: rain, snow, ice, fog, bright sunlight

Who's at risk - People speed for different reasons:

  • Distracted drivers may miss road signs or not notice that their spedometer has crept up, causing them to inadvertently speed.
  • Some people have incorrect perceptions about law enforcement tolerance thresholds and believe they will not be fined for travelling within a certain amount over the limit.
  • A lack of planning can lead to speeding. People often speed when they are running late to an appointment.
  • Younger drivers, particularly younger men, are at a higher risk of committing a speeding offence and of being repeat speeding offenders. Males are generally over-represented in speed-related fatality statistics.

Speeds just over 5km/h above the speed limit in urban areas, and 10km/h above the speed limit in rural areas, are sufficient to double the risk of a casualty crash.

There are common myths about speeding, but they are easily busted by the facts.

Myth vs Fact


The laws of physics don’t change depending on how good a driver you are. The greater the speed, the more likely you are to lose control of your car and the longer it will take you to stop. It’s harder to avoid a crash when you’re speeding because you have less time to respond to the unexpected.


How bad the injuries are following a crash is directly related to how fast cars were travelling at the time. Your speed determines what happens if you hit another person or vehicle. The faster you go, the greater the injuries. The chances a pedestrian hit by a car will die increases rapidly with relatively small increases in speed. For example, a pedestrian hit by a vehicle at 40km/h has a 70% chance of survival, hit at 45km/h the pedestrian has a 50% chance of survival.


Speed cameras are placed in areas known for having problems with excessive speed and where there is a history of crashes causing death or serious injury.

Safety Checklist

Here's a few things you can do to stay to avoid speed-related collisions.

  1. Check your speedometer: Make sure you are travelling within the speed limit, it is possible for your speed to creep up without you realising.
  2. Adjust to the conditions: If the weather, traffic or road conditions are bad, you may need to travel below the speed limit and increase the distance between you and the car in front.
  3. Check again: When you are slowing down from a high speed, check to see you have reached the speed you are aiming for – it can be hard to accurately judge speed.
  4. Increase your distance: When you are travelling at a higher speed, increase the distance between you and the car in front, taking into account the extra time you will need if you stop suddenly.
  5. Consider other drivers: The speed you travel at needs to take into account other drivers on the road, and what actions you may need to take to allow for their behaviour and mistakes.
  6. Trucks and buses need longer stopping distances - don’t cut into their safe following distance gap, it's there for a reason.