Putting the pedal to the metal doesn’t just endanger you and other drivers. Here are a few more reasons to follow the speed limit.
1. You’re burning money.
Aggressive driving—including speeding, rapid acceleration and braking—wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by about 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent in town. For each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph, you’re likely paying an additional 16 cents per gallon for gas.*
2. You might waste time, not save time.
You may be speeding to get to your destination faster, but if you get a ticket, you’ll be spending a lot of time dealing with the consequences. Depending on how fast you were driving, you could face time in court or be required to attend traffic school.
3. Speeding can drain your pocketbook.
Speeding tickets can cost several hundred dollars—and those numbers could double in a school zone or a construction area. Plus, your insurance company could increase your premium, or even cancel your policy.
4. Other drivers aren’t the only people you endanger.
Pedestrians have no barrier between them and a speeding car. Nearly 5,000 pedestrians died in crashes in 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And a person is about 70 percent more likely to be killed if struck by a vehicle traveling at 30 mph versus 25 mph, according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
5. You’re setting a bad example.
If you have teen drivers, they’re influenced by your driving habits. If you speed frequently, they may think that it’s acceptable to drive fast—and that could be fatal for them. https://autoadvice.autoclubsouth.aaa.com/drive/5-unexpected-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-drive-too-fast/