Driving too fast for conditions is defined as traveling at a speed that is greater than a reasonable standard for safe driving.
Examples of conditions where drivers may find themselves driving too fast include:
- Wet roadways (rain, snow, or ice)
- Reduced visibility (fog)
- Construction zones
- Curves
- Intersections
- Heavy traffic
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 23 percent of large-truck crashes occurred when commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were traveling too fast for conditions.
- You should reduce your speed by 1/2 or more on snow packed roads (i.e., if you would normally be traveling at a speed of 60 mph on dry pavement, then on a snow-packed road you should reduce your speed to 30 mph). When you come upon slick, icy roads you should drive slowly and cautiously and pull off the road if you can no longer safely control the vehicle.
- 40 percent of speeding-related fatalities occur on curves.
- Braking in a curve can cause the wheels to lock up and the vehicle to skid.
- Even though ramps and interchanges make up less than 5 percent of all highway miles, 20 to 30 percent of all large-truck crashes occur on or near ramps.
- Loaded trailers require 20 to 40 percent more braking distance than passenger vehicles to come to a complete stop.