Koon's Watch

You missed your alarm clock, and now you’re running late to a meeting with the boss. You figure you’ll save a few minutes by speeding. How could an extra 10 MPH hurt anything? Turns out, it can hurt a lot. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury double for every 10 mph over 50 mph that a vehicle travels. Why take the risk? Posted speed limits are in place for 1 reason: to keep you safe. There was 1 traffic collision every 3.7 minutes in 2017, according to the SC Department of Public Safety. 17,453 people were injured in collisions caused by exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions. Injuries and fatalities also increase within work zones and during inclement weather. If that’s not enough to convince you, speeding also wastes fuel. The US Department of Energy reports aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic. That includes speeding, excessive braking and accelerating quickly. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Division conducts extra patrols throughout the county on a weekly basis. Areas selected are typically those with a higher percentage of citizen inquiry and safety concerns. Deputies are looking for reckless drivers, those not wearing seat belts or obeying speed limits. If you’re caught and ticketed, you’re guilty of a misdemeanor and could face fines or jail time. There is no such thing as a “buffer zone” for speeding. If the thought of a speeding ticket isn’t consequence enough, think about the lives you would be impacting if you got into a wreck. It’s just not worth it.