“Emergency Stops” Need-To-Know Info 

How to Drive a Car:  Speeding

In 2005, an Allstate Foundation study reported that male speeders outnumbered females by 4 to 1, but that’s changing.  In fact, some insurance companies are raising the rates for teen girls because they’ve become faster, more aggressive drivers.

A 2010 Allstate study reported:

• 48% of girls admit to driving 10 mph over the posted limit.

• 16% of girls describe their own driving as aggressive

BEWARE:  Most speeders also run yellow lights

Some people think it’s okay to exceed the speed limit as long as they keep up with the speed of other traffic.  Many driving instructors even teach students that but, the fact is that any speed over the speed limit is dangerous and can get you a ticket. As you learn how to drive a car it is essential to understand what effects speed has on stopping, turning,  reaction time and over-all vehicle control.  If you take a drivers ed course your instructor will point out these effects.  Some of the videos below also show what can happen when driving over the speed limit.

Some teens admit they speed late at night when the roads are empty.

The faster you go, the harder it is to control your car and the longer it takes to stop it.  Speeders can’t slow down quickly enough to avoid sudden obstacles or slowing traffic.  They often run yellow lights and cause serious collisions at intersections.

And your quick teen reflexes won’t help you.  A sudden swerve to avoid a crash could flip your car and land you in a ditch (or worse!)

How to Drive a Car:  Adjusting Your Speed for the Conditions:

The posted speed limit applies to ideal light conditions on good, dry roads.  If it’s dark or raining hard, or the roads are wet or icy, you need to adjust your driving to those conditions.  And that means driving below the posted limit in many cases.