[Dion]

Speeders likely to understate how fast they go


“People don't see themselves as the problem, they see others as the problem – I'm okay and you're the bad guy,” said Raynald Marchand, the general manager of programs for the Canada Safety Council.

“That's pretty human, it's the same with people with regard to cellular phones – I'm okay when I'm using mine, but that guy over there, he's the problem.”

The report suggests that the biggest problem group of drivers is the 30 per cent who speed more than average, and do not believe their speeding translates into a greater risk of an accident, injury or death.

They are labelled two ways, either as risk-takers or as pragmatic speeders. Risk-takers enjoy the thrill of high speed and defying authority, while pragmatic speeders consciously drive aggressively when they believe they have reason to, such as being in a hurry.

“When you look at collision crashes, speeding itself is often not the actual cause of the collision, however, speeding is always an aggravating factor in the collision – the occupant would've been less injured or would've survived if they had been closer to the speed limit,” Mr. Marchand said.

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