Speed on our roads is 'potentially lethal,' says driving expert

Speed on our roads has police and driving experts concerned about safety and warning drivers to slow down.

People are oblivious to what's going on around them.- Rudy Singleton

TheRCMPticketed a driver going more than 180 k/hr on the highway nearWhitbourneMonday.

Driving habits

RCMP Const. DennisHann, whohas been patrolling the highway andcommunity roads betweenClarenvilleand St. John's for abouteight years,said he has oftenseen first hand the dangers of speed.

"The carnage that we face sometimes based on the speed and other factors that cause crashes ... it's not for anybody to live through or tosee and unfortunately we do," saidHann,who was notinvolved in this particular traffic stop.

Hannsaid hehas seen an increase in traffic on area roadsand that while many drivers are practicing safe driving habits,there are others who do not follow the rules. That, he said, isusually when accidents happen.

"We try to advise everyone of what we see that can cause harm or crashes," saidHann.

"What frustrates me the most is the reasons that I hear for it at the time of the stop,and the attitude that some people have that it was no big deal."

Being responsible

RudySingleton, whoteaches defensive driving andtraffic safety with Safety Services NL,shares the same concerns as Hann.

He toldCBC'sCrosstalkhostRamonaDearing that education is needed to change the mindset of many drivers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

When they're all put together they make for a mix that's potentially lethal.- RudySingleton

"Driving can become a very robotic activity, where driving is just thrown into the hopper with a whole host of otherthings," said Singleton.

"When they're all put together they make for a mix that's potentially lethal."

Singleton said that data shows the average personhasa fiveper cent chance of being involved in a collision. Drivers need to understand how speed plays a part in that.

He added that a speedincrease of 15 km/hr increases your chances of a crash by 31 percent and the probability of an accident with injury is much higher.

"Acrash with an injury the chances are increased by 49% and the chance of a fatality are increased by 71%," said Singleton.

"There's a measure of irresponsibility in speeding, the faster you drive the less control you have."

Road strategy

Canada'sRoad Safety Strategy 2015 was designed toreduce fatalities and serious injuries caused by collisions.

Singleton said it lists impaired driving as the main cause of collisions butspeed and aggressive driving came a close second.

Both Singleton andHannagree that other things like weather and road conditions lead to collisions and drivers need to adjust theirspeeds accordingly.

Thatmessage, though,is hard to get through to people.

They agree that while police enforcement can help,the onus is on the driver to know the rules, follow them and be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others.

"If you're doing 150 km/hr and you hit somethingseatbelt or no seatbelt,the resulting injuriesare going to be critical if not fatal," said Singleton.