The importance of proper speed adjustment for road safety in South Africa

The roads of South Africa are constantly busy with commuters, and heavy goods vehicles, this is why it is so important to ensure that speed adjustment is properly followed. Keeping the roads safe requires a level of responsibility when it comes to driving, and the need to practice good driving behaviour by obeying the speed limits, and slower speed in urban areas. The consequences of not following speed limits in South Africa can be catastrophic.

Traffic Crashes in South Africa

South Africa has one of the highest rates of traffic fatalities per capita in the world. As reported by the World Health Organisation, in 2016, South Africa’s traffic fatality rate was 3254 per million population, to compare, the United States had a traffic fatality rate of 10.9 per million population in the same year. It is for this exact reason that the importance of properly following speed limits and practising caution on the roads of South Africa cannot be overstated. To break it down, a major cause for traffic fatalities in South Africa is speeding and exceeding the limits prescribed by the road laws in South Africa. These are the laws enacted by the National Road Traffic Act in South Africa, but unfortunately not all drivers follow the law. Reducing speed limits to the point that they are safe to operate at can significantly decrease the chances of crashes occurring.

The Impact of Proper Speed Adjustment on Road Safety in South Africa

In South Africa reducing the frequency and severity of vehicle crashes is essential for any sort of progress in road safety. Reducing speed limits and practising caution is important for everyone on the road and should be taken seriously. A decrease in speed limits can help reduce the frequency and severity of traffic crashes in South Africa. Research shows that a 5 percent reduction in the average speed of traffic can result in a 20 to 25 percent reduces in the severity of injury involved in those crashes. Even a slight increase in speed essentially amplifies the risk of car accidents. Generally, when a car is driven at a higher speed, the force of impact on impact of a collision resulting from that higher speed increases proportionally. In simple terms, the faster a vehicle is travelling in impact, the more forces are at larger play, resulting in bigger and often more lethal impacts. By following the proper speed limits South Africans can reduce the chance of fatal and non-fatal crashes.

Driving Slow, Driving Safe

There are other factors to consider when assessing the road safety benefits of maintaining proper speed adjustments, for instance there is a term called ‘perception-prediction-reaction time’. This is the estimated time taken from being aware of a potential hazard to being able to initiate a reaction of the hazard. This is important to consider when driving as vehicles on a road usually move at high speeds and for there to be smooth traffic on the road, it is important that drivers can predictably assess how others on the road may drive, and adjust their own driving accordingly. The World Health Organisation has stated that the time taken for a [driver to take a reaction] increases with an increase in speed. This is why it is so important to adjust speed while driving, it hinders a drivers’ ability to accurately predict and adjust to the behaviour of other drivers.

On Demand Truck and Driver Hire with Qiktruck

At Qiktruck, we strive to provide our customers with the best possible service. We take the road safety aspects of our service very seriously, which is why we ensure that all our drivers are trained to maintain safe levels of speed on the roads. As experts in transportation and driver hire services, we understand the importance of understanding the implications of speed and how it can increase the chance of dangerous crashes occuring. We are committed to provide our customers with the safest and most cost-effective transportation services available, while also doing our part to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused on the roads of South Africa. Our team of experienced and trained drivers are ready to provide our services to those in need of transportation in South Africa. If you need any transportation services for your business, trust in the reliable service of QikTruck. Visit us here for more information!