NO NEED FOR SPEED!

Picture showing the speedometer of a vehicle involved in a near accident recently.

People who are used to pushing the speed limits of machines often mock those who say they are very uncomfortable with driving at ridiculous speeds. More so, it is now a form of social acclaim to have the nerve to drive fast. Imagine a man driving down a highway at top speed. He is used to the road and knows the bends and curves so well. He also knows that the local government does a good work of patching the roads so well that he has never seen a ditch in the middle of this particular highway before. So it's a Friday evening and he has to get home to his family and decides to wing it. He steps on the gas and is soon tearing down the highway at 120km/hr. Then suddenly, as he emerges from a curve, he sees some goats crossing the highway and he unconsciously hits his breaks in a desperate attempt to avoid hitting the goats. The car swings uncontrollably to the left and then to the right, and then to the left again before heading into the bushes! Imagine the loss of life, or the loss of property if he survives, then imagine the family anxiously waiting for him at home.

These days, there are many motion pictures, media adverts, and video game franchises that promote speed, and there are individuals who love to move as fast as the limits of certain machines will permit them to. Some people claim that they actually experience a certain metaphorical spiritual high each time they push their cars or power motocycles to the limits. Others say that they experience a sense of freedom at top speed, hence the need for more speed. The need for speed is rapidly increasing. While some drive fast as a form or recreation, others do so because everybody is in a mad hurry to be somewhere these days. This need or craving for speed is dangerous and may result to death.

According to Stephen D. (September 24, 2012), the FRSC- Federal Road Safety Corp, the Nigerian Agency in charge of road safety, statistics show that in the first half of the year 2012, about 1,936 people lost their lives in road accidents across Nigeria. These accidents may be attributed to reckless driving, bad roads, inavailability of street lights, among other things. Road users do not have any influence on bad roads, and street lights, but can influence reckless driving.

There are various speed limits recommended by different states around the world for all kinds of roads. Residential areas, highways, major roads, commercial roads, and so on. I personally try never to drive beyond 80 Km/hr on highways, but will suggest that road users should follow the state or area speed limits recommended. These speed limits are usually clearly posted on the roads, look out for them and other road safety signs and be safe out there. There really is no need for top speed in real life, we will all get to our destinations, eventually, even if we drive carefully. Plan your time carefully, leave home early to avoid traffic jams and maintain a appropriate speed limit at all time.

For more information on speed limits and driving safely on the road, I am sure that the kind folks at +FederalRoad SafetyCorps, +RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Inc., +RoadSafetyBC, +RoadSafetyUAE, +Road Safety First Driving School, +Road Safety 360, +DrivingSafe.co.uk, +DriveSafe, +DriveSaferKansas, +Drivesafe RoadSafety, +Safe Driving School Inc, +Safe Drivers Institute of America, LLC., +Drivingsafetycoursetexas.com, and +American Red Cross may be willing to answer your questions.

                                                       Reference

Stephen D. September 24, 2012. FRSC releases statistics for road accidents. Retrieved       from http://connectnigeria.com/articles/2012/09/24/frsc-releases-statistics-for-road-accidents/

Disclaimer: Please note that I will not be held accountable or responsible for any accidents or incidents resulting from use of information gathered from this blog post.

Respectfully yours,

Onwuka Chukwuemeka,

Health Safety & Environment,

Procter & Gamble |  Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria  | +2347043319172 | +2348057044512

… even on our worse nights, the sun eventually rises.