Not only does speeding bring an array of dangers to yourself and those around you, but it can also bring about some unwanted repercussions in the future. You could be pulled and immediately fined for speeding. If it’s more than a couple of miles over the limit, you could even be apprehended for a 30-day sentence by the cops for reckless driving!

But it really is the immediate impact that is the most crucial to consider. The Texas Department of Transportation logged over 27,500 vehicle crashes in 2020 and there was not one deathless day on the roads. 

So, given the large number of crashes, our expert car enthusiasts and technicians here at Dealership Autoplex Collision Center wanted to introduce 7 of the usual dangers caused by speeding.

1. There is Less Time to React When Speeding

No matter what the obstruction or cause for hitting the break, speeding will mean it will take longer for your car to stop. And often, there simply isn’t enough space to slow down enough to prevent a fatal collision. As a guideline, the 2017 Texas Driver Handbook released some key reference points. For example, a medium-sized vehicle travelling at 20mph only needs 63 feet to stop but speeds of 70mph require 377 feet.

2. Blind Corners Can Reveal Several Dangers

A blind corner is any turn where the view of the immediate road ahead is obstructed by something such as trees or even a building. Not only do you need to be able to have ample space to break and take the corner slowly to prevent your vehicle from rolling, but it can also prevent a collision. Whether it’s a pedestrian or another oncoming vehicle, you don’t know what lies ahead and speed can exacerbate anything.

3. Pedestrians Can Be Unpredictable

Main road or country pathway, pedestrians have just as much a right to be there as you do. Of course, while jaywalking is illegal, there may be some out there who stretch the law or even stumble onto the road. 30mph is the cut-off point between a car collision with a pedestrian being fatal or not. So, let off the gas and adhere to the road speed limit. Even an extra 10% on the speedometer can make life-altering differences.

4. Speeding Over Black Ice Can Cause Spin Out

While this danger of speeding may only be applicable to the Winter months in Texas, it doesn’t make it any less of a cause for impact. Black ice forms on the asphalt and is invisible to the naked eye. When you hit black ice, there’s a high chance you could lose control of your vehicle and cause the back end to spin out. Yet, too many of us either aren’t aware of black ice or shrug it off the truck for later consideration. 

5. Crossing Animals Can Blend into the Scenery

While some farm animals like cows may not have this issue, a lot of Texas wildlife can blend into the background of state loops and all sorts of roads. Some of the more common wildlife seen walking along the roads include raccoons, opossums, armadillos, fox squirrels, rat snakes and diamond back rattlesnakes. Big or small, they cause you or the car ahead to swerve at high speeds and cause a fatal road collision.

6. Potholes Can Cause Worse Vehicle Damage

Potholes are just part of the scenery here and with everything being bigger in Texas, it means the potholes are just another large hurdle to be aware of when on the road. Following speed limits and hitting potholes might cause some impact damage to your tires or your chassis. But, when speeding, the dangers become much more significant and can lead to airbag deployment or even a loss of control of the vehicle.

7. Cyclist Passing Brings the Dangers of Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics on the road don’t stop at cars and trucks. Cyclists can also experience wind suction form your car no matter how big or small. And, the higher your speed at the point of passing, the bigger the wind suction and likelihood of causing the cyclist to wobble or fall. Hence the speed limits on the road as well as the right to the road being given to the cyclist in the Texas Transportation Code. 

So, ya’ll, these 7 dangers of speeding are simply not worth the risk. Especially when the majority of them occur on roads where the speed limit is 30mph or less!

That said, if you’ve been in a collision caused by a reckless driver, you’ll want to get your vehicle down to a trusted autobody shop with ASE-certified technicians. They’ll be able to take your wheels off your hands and service top to bottom from simple paintless dent repair (PDR) to full vehicle restoration.

Give the team a call today on (972) 242-0092 or take a look at our website to learn more about all the services we offer here at Dealership Autoplex Collision Center. Alternatively, drive straight into the shop to talk to our technicians about your speeding collision repair here in Carrollton, TX.