Speed – Left Unchecked Can be a Killer
Cars, vans and motorbikes are regularly seen driving at speeds over 30 mph on residential roads, especially the ones leading in and out of town, to and from work and on the school run. Just look at this…
A child runs out to cross the road from behind a parked car – his friend is terrified and screams to him to stop – the boy is just 80ft (24m) away when you see him. Can you stop in time?
Well, it depends on how fast you are driving, whether it’s wet or dry and if you are concentrating on the road ahead. The video opposite shows a car being driven at an estimated speed of 45mph on a clear, dry, sunny day.
If conditions were dry and you were driving at 30 mph, then the little child would have been safe. You would have stopped in just 75ft (23m) as per the chart below. You will have felt shaken, but so relieved that you managed to stop in time.
However, if you were driving at 40 mph you would have hit him hard, almost certainly broke some bones, maybe even caused life-changing injuries and/or brain damage, or even killed him DEAD!
At 45 mph, the car in the video would have been travelling at 66 ft per second, so the impact would have happened in less than 2 seconds and in just the length of an average back garden. That driver barely had time to think, let alone brake, and he would have caused so much pain to that poor little boy. It happened in Swansea, July 2018.
Stick to 30, it’s the law and it makes so much sense.
CCTV Captures the Horrifying Moment a Boy is Hit by a Speeding Car in a 30mph Residential Neighbourhood
(warning – some viewers may may find this distressing)
The boy managed to walk away from the smash, with a broken arm and a broken collar bone. Footage of the moment was shown to the Magistrates' Court, where the driver pleaded guilty for failing to stop after a road accident, and failing to report it.
Thinking, Braking & Stopping Distances
Average Dry Stopping Distance (Assuming two-thirds of a second reaction time)
Speed |
Thinking Distance |
Braking Distance |
Total Stopping Distance |
| 20 mph | 20 feet (6.1 m) | 20 feet | 40 feet (12 m) |
| 30 mph | 30 feet (9.1 m) | 45 feet | 75 feet (23 m) |
| 40 mph | 40 feet (12 m) | 80 feet | 120 feet (37 m) |
| 50 mph | 50 feet (15 m) | 125 feet | 175 feet (53 m) |
| 60 mph | 60 feet (18 m) | 180 feet | 240 feet (73 m) |
| 70 mph | 70 feet (21 m) | 245 feet | 315 feet (96 m) |
| 80 mph | 80 feet (24 m) | 320 feet | 400 feet (120 m) |
Average Wet Stopping Distance (Assuming two-thirds of a second reaction time)
Speed |
Thinking Distance |
Braking Distance |
Total Stopping Distance |
| 20 mph | 20 feet (6.1 m) | 40 feet | 60 feet (18 m) |
| 30 mph | 30 feet (9.1 m) | 90 feet | 120 feet (37 m) |
| 40 mph | 40 feet (12 m) | 160 feet | 200 feet (61 m) |
| 50 mph | 50 feet (15 m) | 250 feet | 300 feet (91 m) |
| 60 mph | 60 feet (18 m) | 360 feet | 420 feet (130 m) |
| 70 mph | 70 feet (21 m) | 490 feet | 560 feet (170 m) |
| 80 mph | 80 feet (24 m) | 640 feet | 720 feet (220 m) |
So why does speeding occur?
There are many reasons why people drive too fast, but research shows that there are three main causes:
- People rushing to get to work on time, getting children to school on time, meeting appointment deadlines etc.
- Bullish, aggressive driving attitudes.
- Lack of 30 mph signs to remind motorists that this is the legal speed limit.
Our aim is to use a series of bespoke 30mph signs and Slow Down signs along streets where speeding is most prevalent. Residents can also display a sign on a post in their front garden if they wish. We will ask residents to form groups wearing high-vis vests / jackets to be a visible presence in their street. We will bring a mobile speed detection device to the worst affected streets, backed up by the Police.
Top Ten Tips
RoSPA’s practical tips for drivers who find it difficult to stay within the speed limit.
- Check Your Speedometer Regularly
- Know the Limits – Look for Signs
- Assume Lamp Posts Mean 30 mph (see below)
- Speed Limits are a Maximum not a Minimum
- ’20 is Plenty’ When Kids and Animals Are About
- Try no Higher Than 3rd Gear in 30 mph areas
- Recognise What Makes You Speed
- Concentrate – Distracted Drivers Usually Exceed the Speed Limit
- Slow Down When Entering Villages and other Built-Up Areas
- Give Yourself Time – Leave home a few Minutes Earlier
Legal Definition of a Road in a 30mph Zone (ie. a Restricted Road)
Section 82(1)(a) (of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA 1984)) defines a restricted road in England and Wales as a road which is provided with “a system of street lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 200 yards apart”. Section 81 specifically makes it an offence for a person to drive a motor vehicle at a speed of more than 30 mph on a restricted road.
How You Can Get Involved
Raising funds for the Stick to 30 Campaign
I am raising funds here to pay for signs, posters, printing etc., all of which will be needed to make a very high profile in the worst affected streets/roads in our neighbourhoods. We will work closely with the police Community Speed Watch (CSW) scheme and a group of our supporters have already volunteered to run an official CSW scheme in Torbay. The Stick to 30 campaign can operate in streets/roads, which are deemed to be unsuitable for the CSW scheme, but where residents inform us that speeding occurs on a regular basis.
If you would like to take an active part I can arrange for you to have a hi-viz jacket and /or hi-viz vest and an ID badge and you would be part of a pro-active team in your street/road. Please also donate whatever you can via the ‘Donate Now’ button below which is a link to the Just Giving crowdfunding page.
If you would like to take a supportive passive role, please donate whatever you can via our Just Giving page.
Please complete your details opposite to register your support and receive regular updates.
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