Why are drivers still speeding?
Posted April 3, 2016 9:57 am.
Last Updated April 3, 2016 10:06 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It is the number one killer on local roads, so what drives a person to speed knowing it could cost them or their passengers their lives?
Statistics show from 1996 to 2003, men between 16 and 55 had consistently higher speed-related fatality rates, sometimes triple that of women.
“Men tend to be more prone to risk-taking than women especially as far as driving goes. We see that with quite a number of behaviours whether it’s speeding, impaired driving or distracted driving,” explains Mark Milner with ICBC.
Research finds there are two main facts about why you shouldn’t do it and they’re obvious — as your speed increases your reaction time decreases.
“It’s mostly people who are over-estimating their ability to react to unforeseen circumstances when they’re behind the wheel.”
Just last week, BC’s top doctor suggested lowering the speed limit to urban areas from 50 km/h to 30 km/h in an effort to cut down on the number of pedestrians who are hit and crashes involving speed.
Dr. Perry Kendall is also calling out the province for increasing speeds on some highways up to 120 km/h while giving the left lane hog legislation the green light last year.
