Driving too fast 'can have serious consequences'

Date: 10/6/2010

TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) was asked to try to demonstrate the power of sport in a bid to raise awareness of the dangers associated with driving too fast.

Road safety charity Brake approached TRL, as it believes too many high-profile people are often in the media spotlight for driving offences, with speeding in sports cars being the most common.

The research revealed the energy in a collision between a car and a child is equivalent to 20 around 20 times that of a top tennis player's serve eight times that of a footballer's free kick and about 18 times that of a professional golfer's drive.

Senior Researcher from TRL Dr Nick Reed said: "I was alarmed by the finding that a child hit at 27mph was equivalent to a child falling backwards out the window of a three storey house."

He added that this made him think about how many motorists actually realise how dangerous it is to drive at 30 mph in residential areas.

Meanwhile, children are getting behind this year's Road Safety Week, which has the theme Kids Say Slow Down.

It is hoped the initiative will let drivers know that when they travel through built-up areas a speed of 20 mph is fast enough.

Posted by Sarah Bailey