Car crashes and Safe Speeders

For the majority of people the notion that speed is a significant factor in causing car crashes is a given. However there is a small but vocal minority who believe that the impact of speed on the incidence and severity of car crashes is hugely overrated.

This minority are known as Safe Speed advocates. Many people will be surprised to learn that they are not a reactionary and radical group of boy racers but, in fact, a well organised and extremely persuasive lobby group who believe themselves to be committed to principles of road safety.

Speed, car crashes and context
The proponents of Safe Speed argue that the typical approach to speed is founded on an inadequate definition of what speed means.

For them, speeding is about more than simply breaking the speed limit. They suggest that notions of speed should be viewed as contextual, and that only speeds which are inappropriate to the driving conditions should be viewed as excessive.

Through this framework they take issue with Government claims that "30% of all accidents have excessive speed as a cause or contributory factor", retorting that inadequate definitions of the words "speed", "excessive", "cause" and "contributory" all combine to create a misleading argument that is founded on flawed research.

One popular aspect of the Safe Speed thesis concerns speed on motorways. They ask why motorways, which are scene to the highest speed limits in Britain, are among the nation's safest roads.

Rather than speed per se, the lobbyists argue, it is other elements that should be considered the major causal factors in car crashes. These factors include things such as inattentiveness, inexperience and poor attention. While admitting that speed is a factor in all car crashes, they say this is only the case because some form of movement or speed is necessary to cause any kind of collision.

Enforcement of speed limits
Safe Speed advocates claim that speed limits are rarely useful in reducing the number of car crashes on a particular road. In fact, some within the lobby believe that speed limits are a contributory cause to a number of car crashes by promoting an illusion of safety, something the say leads to complacency and poor observation of driving conditions. They say that it is not excessive speed which causes accidents but, rather, inappropriate speed.

Many of Safe Speed's detractors feel that its arguments begin to look very threadbare on these points. Surely, the detractors argue, speed limits are in place as a means to prevent people travelling at inappropriate speeds.

However, Safe Speeders would counter with Canadian research that shows around 2/3 of all excessive speed car crashes occur within the speed limit.

Road safety expert, John Edwards, comments, "Of course speed limits are not foolproof, but they are the best system we have.

"In some pure theoretical cases it may be safe to travel at 120mph, and sure it might feel exhilarating too. But travelling at that kind of speed it only takes the slightest unexpected event for things to go fatally wrong.

"Some from the Safe Speed movement might have the interests of road safety at heart, but in reality I believe that much of their programme would lead to anarchy on the roads that is not to say they don't have something to offer the debate."

Making a no win, no fee car crash claim
If you have suffered personal injury in a car crash as a result of another person's dangerous driving, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

YouClaim have years of experience in helping people who have been involved in road accidents receive the damages awards they deserve.

Win or lose, our no win, no fee solicitors will never charge you a single penny in legal costs or fees, meaning that you can rest assured that your claim will never cost you a thing.

Furthermore, we guarantee to protect you from all costs incurred by the opposing legal team.

Unlike many others, we also have a commitment to never touch a penny of the money awarded to our clients, meaning you will receive 100% compensation.

If you would like to begin your car crash compensation claim today, speak to a legal advisor now by calling 0800 10 757 95. If you would like a chat but don't have the time right now, request a call back.

Alternatively, if you would like to do some groundwork first, fill out an online claim form or use our e-chat window to talk to one of the experts from the comfort of your desktop.