Speeding doesn't just increase the risk of road accidents, it can also lead to higher repair bills, insurance complications and costly claims. Miway's Sherry Sibeko explains why slowing down, especially during winter, can protect both your safety and your finances.
In South Africa, speed-related collisions are a key contributor to road fatalities, with research showing that the severity of a collision at 80km/h is about 20 times higher than at 32km/h.
The implications of speeding go beyond safety alone and can also result in avoidable financial strain for motorists.
Even small increases in speed can have a disproportionate impact. Just a 1% rise in average speed is linked to a 3% increase in serious collisions. What many drivers don’t always consider is how that same principle applies to the financial outcome. The faster you’re travelling, the greater the potential vehicle impact and the higher the cost of repairs or replacement.
As winter conditions take hold across much of the country, these considerations become even more important. Roads are more slippery, visibility can be reduced, and traffic conditions can be unpredictable, so speed plays an even bigger role in determining the outcome of a potential incident. At higher speeds, drivers have less time to respond safely.
