Slower drivers often believe that they are safer and that they are making wise decisions. They’ll drive down the interstate – hopefully in the correct lane, but not always – moving far more slowly than the flow of traffic because the overwhelming speed is unnerving to them. They think they are staying as safe as possible and making an accident less likely.
However, there are two main reasons why slower drivers are not actually any safer. In fact, they may be making it more likely that people will get involved in a car accident.
The interstate is the safest place to drive
First and foremost, fears about speed on the interstate are overstated. It is true that getting in an accident at higher speeds can lead to more severe injuries. But the interstate is still much safer overall. Because of the way that traffic is controlled, accidents are very unlikely, even at higher speeds.
Slow drivers create speed differences
Another thing to remember is that what really makes the road a dangerous place is when you have differences in speed between vehicles. This is why excessive speeding and reckless driving is so dangerous. But it’s also a way driving slowly can be problematic. A slow driver naturally has a very large speed difference when compared to the flow of traffic around them. They force people to change lanes and hit their brakes unexpectedly.
And that is how speed differences often lead to accidents. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, be sure you know what legal options you have.
