Speed Awareness

How many of you have been on a Speed Awareness Course? I suspect the answer could be quite a few, as it's obviously preferable to taking points and a fine.

Speeding is a national disease of epidemic proportions, especially in the lower speed ranges of 40, 30 and 20mph zones. Why do you think that's the case? How long did the after-effects of such a course last?

The longer the aftermath of these courses last, the safer you will drive and potentially avoid having penalty points on your licence in the future.

Decisions and Choices

Speeding leads to increased risks of incidents, serious crashes and fatalities. While there are many factors that contribute to speeding, ultimately, it's the driver who makes the decisions and choices to speed. It goes without saying that the greater the impact speed, the greater the chance of causing a fatality. A pedestrian hit at 30mph has a one in five chance of being killed. If the speed rises to 35 mph this lowers the survival rate to just one in three'. Hitting a pedestrian at over 40 mph, a fatality will probably happen. Imagine having that on your record for the rest of your life!

Improving Speeding Habits

To improve your speed habits, it is essential to start developing a pattern of self-analysis. This involves confronting your behaviour, challenging negative thoughts about discipline, and addressing the false reasons drivers use to justify their speeding behaviour.

Triggers

Recognise the problem and accept that speeding is a dangerous behavior that needs to change.

The fact that you drive a high-performance car gives you no right to drive faster than everyone else, but it does mean you'll need more behavioural discipline, not less.

Drivers often tell me about the 'triggers' that lead to speeding and justifying their behavior, so it's important that all drivers pay attention to situations or emotions that appear to 'force' them to speed.

These could include running late, feeling frustrated, or driving on familiar roads for example.

Negative thoughts

Many drivers have negative thoughts that they have to stop speeding as it's become a way of life to them and something they've always done. In their minds, that statement alone appears to justify their approach to this behavioural issue on the roads.

Examine the reasons you offer yourself for speeding. Common justifications might include "I'm in a hurry," or "everyone else is doing it," or "I won't get caught." Do these statements sound familiar?

Drivers need to challenge the reasons they sometimes justify their speeding habits and consider the 'long-term consequences' of losing their licence, causing a crash or a fatality.

Positive Reinforcement

On occasions our mind wanders away from the act of driving and we 'drift' in and out of paying attention to the driving task – another way we often speed without actually noticing it.

It's essential that you stay present and focused on the act of driving, rather than letting your mind wander. Another great way to develop positive driving habits is to use positive reinforcement and 'reward yourself' for maintaining safe/legal speeds.

This can be as simple as acknowledging your good behaviour or setting small rewards for consistent safe driving.

Set Realistic Goals

Another way that is focused on behavioural change is to set realistic and achievable goals for yourself, such as committing to obey speed limits for a day. Then extend that to a week. Then a month and onwards so every time you drive, you stay within all posted speed limits. It presents a good way to keep a check on your speeding habits and rein them in, in a satisfying way that you are achieving something special, probably for the first time in years!

Tips to Stop Speeding

• Allow extra time for your journeys to reduce the temptation to speed when running late.
• Use navigation apps to plan routes and avoid traffic delays that might lead to speeding.
• Learn about the impact of speed on stopping distances and collision severity.
• Understand local speed limits and the reasons they are set at certain levels.
• When appropriate (motorways?) use cruise control to help maintain a consistent legal speed.
• Generally, lamp posts indicate a 30mph zone unless signs dictate otherwise – consider you could be in a 20mph zone.
• Check your speedometer regularly. If you creep over the limit, just ease off the accelerator.
• Ensure you slow down to the posted limit when entering villages and towns.

Is my Speed Safe?

By confronting your speeding behaviours, challenging the negative thoughts that lead to undisciplined driving, and addressing the false reasons for justifying speeding, you can develop safer driving habits.

Finally, it's about consistent self-analysis and self-control and taking proactive measures to cultivate discipline. Enforce this by constantly asking yourself … IS MY SPEED SAFE?