Speeding
The modern vehicle can accelerate quickly and cruise effortlessly at speeds well over 100 km/h. In air-conditioned comfort with music playing the average driver can easily feel secure and be insulated against the true sensation of speed. Travelling at inappropriate speeds increases the likelihood of a crash occurring, while physics dictate that the faster the speed, the higher the likely severity of injury caused in road crashes.
The problem may not be speed per se, but more likely the wrong speed in the wrong places or conditions, or speeding in conjunction with fatigue and alcohol. A large proportion of fatal crashes involve single cars on a straight road, at non-intersections, in 100km/h zones, during the day.
In 2003, speeding was a contributing factor in 15% of fatal crashes. Lower limits in urban areas have resulted in reductions in the number of crashes and fatalities, e.g., since the 50km/h local street speed limit was introduced in south-east Queensland in 1999 there has been an 18% reduction in fatal crashes and 8% reduction in all crashes on local streets when compared to the previous five year average.
During the period 1994-2000 in Queensland, the relative risk of dying as a result of a speed-related crash in rural areas was 3.1 times higher compared to urban areas.
Over the period 1997 – 2001 since the introduction of Queensland’s speed camera program there has been a 45% reduction in fatal crashes and 35% reduction in serious crashes within two kilometres of speed camera sites.
