🚘 Match the Speed of Surrounding Traffic
- It’s generally safest to travel at the same speed as traffic (within the legal limit).
- If the posted speed is 65 mph and most cars are going 65, that’s ideal.
- Driving significantly slower without reason can be dangerous — others may tailgate or pass unsafely.
- If you prefer to go slower, stay in the right lane so faster vehicles can pass.
- Impeding traffic (driving too slowly without cause) can result in a citation.
🌊 Hydroplaning
- Happens when your tires lose contact with the road due to water buildup.
- Signs: steering feels light or unresponsive.
- What to do:
- Ease off the accelerator.
- Do NOT brake hard.
- Make small steering corrections if necessary.
- Let the vehicle gradually slow down until tires regain grip.
🔄 Sharp Corners / Blind Turns
- Slow down enough that you could stop safely if there’s something unexpected ahead (e.g., pedestrian, stalled car).
- Follow posted advisory speeds — they’re there for a reason.
📉 Avoid “Speed Creep”
- On open roads, you may accidentally speed because lower speeds feel slow.
- Glance at your speedometer periodically, especially:
- After exiting a highway.
- When transitioning into residential or school zones.
⚠️ Basic Speed Law Reminder
- You can be ticketed for driving the speed limit if it’s unsafe for current conditions (rain, fog, congestion).
- You can also be cited for going too slow without reason and impeding traffic.
Key principle: Ask yourself:
“Given the road, weather, and traffic, is my speed appropriate?”
💥 Speed and Crash Risk
- Crash energy increases exponentially with speed.
- At 60 mph, the crash energy is 4x greater than at 30 mph.
- Even a small reduction in speed can make a crash far less severe — or avoidable altogether.