Gordon Cole

“It is because motorists delude themselves into believing that a speedometer tells them how fast they are covering the ground that the danger of road accidents is increased”

A speedometer gives a rider/driver speed in miles per hour. Has anyone a mental picture of the length of any hour or the length of a mile? I doubt it. The only measure that gives one an overall picture of the speed at which a vehicle covers the ground is a measure of feet per second. At 60mph a vehicle covers 87.9 feet per second – to make it easier to understand call it 90 feet per second, which is correct within 2%. All you have to do is to add one half to the figure of your speed in mph and you will have your speed in feet per second. Now, if all riders/drivers think of feet per second instead of mph, look, scan and plan further ahead, drive at a safe speed for the road and prevailing conditions and road surface and be able to stop within the “limit point” – distance that is seen to be clear – then they will be on the correct course to being a better and safer individual for the benefit of themselves and other road users.

Another aspect of risk management/road safety is whenever a motor vehicle touches what is called kinetic energy, which can be best described as weight in motion. As a speedometer records speed in miles per hour, I quote weight in imperial measure. A detailed explanation is, for example, a vehicle weighing one ton and moving at a speed of 30mph will strike an object with a 30-ton impact. Thus, at 60mph, the moving force would strike an object with a 60-ton impact. It does not leave much to the imagination to realise the injury, loss of life and damage to property caused by such a force on impact.

Human nature is such today that when travelling from one place to another, most are inspired with the same desire to get to their destination as soon as possible. So they travel as fast as possible with no regard to speed limits and safety of other road users. Drivers who are arrogant in the manner they drive, selfish and inconsiderate to the health and safety of other road users and pedestrians cause or are involved in most road accidents. “Feet per second” and “kinetic energy” do not occur to most of them – until after the accident. The cost of injury, pain and suffering and death cannot be evaluated.

The purpose of speed cameras is a deterrent to inconsiderate drivers who are not complying with the law for the prevailing road and traffic conditions and speed limits at that time or place. Most self-opinionated, so-called competent riders/drivers have not read, let alone studied, the contents of the Highway Code. If they did, and complied with the information/advice given at all times, concentrated on their driving, looked and planned well ahead and allowed adequate time to complete their journey, they would not be moaning about how unfair speed cameras are. Thus, if you are caught exceeding a speed limit and are fined and receive three points on your driving licence, don’t moan. Comply with the law – it is safer and cheaper to do so for everyone.

Gordon Cole is director of training of Welwyn-based risk management company Fleet Driver Services Website: www.fleetdriverservices.co.uk