Despite the attached article and additional images referring specifically to European countries, the same ‘speed’ scenario and dangers undeniably apply in the USA and Canada, too.
Did you know that, on average, 1 in 3 deaths on roads in high-income countries are due to speed? (More info.)
The speeds shown in the infographic, above — 30, 50 and 80 — refer to kilometres per hour (km/h) and are equivalent to 17, 31 and 50mph.
Hi Eddie – where did that article come from?
I ask because a number of my European colleagues would dispute:
a) that excessive is when the speed limit is exceeded. Excessive speed is when the speed is too high for the conditions – and that includes not just the posted speed limit but the weather, the surface, the type of road, the age of the vehicle and the experience of the driver – and that’s just for starters!!
b) that the chances of becoming a fatality when hit by a vehicle at 80kph are a darn site greater than 60%. I would calculate that they’re in excess of 90%. No, the important part is between 30 and 40mph. From UK research this is where the risk of becoming a fatality being hit by a vehicle jump from about 15% to 60% – check out http://think.direct.gov.uk/speed.html. The UK police now call it “The Killing Zone”
You’re quite right, Lance — thank you. I should have picked up on that myself and I’m annoyed that I missed it.
The answer to your question is that it was posted (perhaps inter alia) by the European Road Safety Charter.