When you took your driving test, they should have taught you that sometimes you will need to go slower than the speed limit. They should have taught you that drivers must adjust their speed to the conditions.
Here is a reminder of why this is so important:
Sometimes the surface has less grip
If the road surface has poor grip, it will take you longer to brake. If, for example, a child steps out into the road outside a school without looking, you might be able to stop in time if you are traveling at the 20 mph limit in ideal conditions. If, however, the road is icy, or a gravel truck spilled some of its load across your lane, it’s going to take you longer and your chances of hitting the child rise.
Sometimes traffic dictates a slower speed
Imagine you are driving along a stretch of road with a 55 mph limit and see a group of cyclists ahead of you. Passing them at 55 mph might be inappropriate as it would leave you little time to react if one of them were to wobble. Slowing down slightly, as well as giving them a wide berth can help you avoid a collision.
Sometimes it’s your condition that requires you to slow down
You went out late last night. While you did not drink, you are still feeling worse for wear due to how little sleep you got. Your reactions will be slower because of how tired you are, so you should consider building in an element of safety by dropping your speed a little to make up for this.
If more drivers adjusted their speed for the conditions, there would likely be fewer crashes. Unfortunately many do not think this way. You’ll need to investigate your legal options If one of them injures you.
