25% of fatal car accidents were linked to speed

Drivers in British Columbia who think speeding will bring them to their destinations more quickly should think twice. They might arrive a few minutes earlier or not at all. One-quarter of fatal car accidents nationwide are speed-related. Could saving time be more important than saving lives?

Driving a distance of 40 km at the posted speed limit of 70 km/hr would take 34 minutes. Travelling that same distance at a speed of 80 km/hr will save the driver only four minutes. The trip will take 30 minutes, or a speed-related accident could prevent arrival altogether. Sadly, speeding drivers risk their own lives and the lives of their passengers and other road users.

Responsible drivers typically take the following precautions to avoid speeding:

• Allocate enough time to allow arrival on time without the need to exceed posted speed limits.
• Accept that – regardless of proper planning – running late can happen.
• Avoid trying to make up time by speeding; instead, adjust the estimated arrival time.
• Make safety a priority by choosing it over speed.

Sometimes the most responsible drivers become complacent. Travelling the same route to and from work can cause drivers to forget that even the most familiar roads could be dangerous. Drivers should avoid daydreaming while travelling usual routes and remain focused on driving. Adverse weather conditions, road works and traffic congestion pose additional safety hazards.

Accidents happen in the blink of an eye, and other drivers’ need for speed could change a pleasant trip into a nightmare. Victims of car accidents in British Columbia may have grounds to pursue financial relief, even if they suffered personal injury while travelling south of the border. However, for a civil lawsuit to be viable, the plaintiffs will have to prove negligence on another party’s part.