Moving Violations: Components of Successful Speeding

[AF News Desk]

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Moving Violations:
Components of Successful Speeding
It takes a functioning foot and a gas pedal to speed.
It takes insight to speed successfully.

Jonathan Swigart - AutomotiveForums.com
Sept. 7, 2011

From the day many of us become licensed to drive, whenever we sit in our cars, in the back of our mind there is a little voice repeating the same thing, over and over: “Faster! Faster!”

It’s no secret that for many (if not most) auto enthusiasts, speed is one of the biggest thrills of driving. Statistically, most drivers admit to having gone over the speed limit. In 2010, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) conducted a survey regarding driving over the speed limit. Approximately 90 percent of those who responded indicated they have engaged in driving faster than the posted speed limit.

Unfortunately, many of us who speed seem to be doing it wrong. In the United States alone, more than 100,000 speeding tickets are issued on a daily basis, which equates to around 41 million tickets per year. This tells me two things: 1. Many of us have heavy feet and 2. We’re not very good at not getting caught.

However, it doesn’t always have to be that way. In fact, if you take into account a few “rules” when it comes to speeding, the likelihood of you being pulled over might go down (even as your speedometer doesn’t).

First of all: Pay attention. That’s it. Well, that’s almost it. What I mean is, be aware of more than the car in front of you and the direction you’re going; pay attention to the opposing lanes as well and look further ahead than a couple of cars to see what’s on the horizon. Many times, people will simply not see the patrol cars sitting off to the side of the road or notice the cop heading the opposite direction on the highway/interstate. Just by paying attention, you give yourself the opportunity to catch the cop before he/she catches you.

Another thing to consider is when speeding is timing. One thing I try to stick to is not speeding at night. When it’s dark and you’ve got the open road ahead of you and nary a light in the back or foreground, it’s easy to push the pedal closer to the floor. However, you’re also forgetting that what and who you can’t see CAN hurt you, or at least your pocket book.

A personal favorite tactic of mine is the “pace car” method. This is when you use someone who is going noticeably faster than yourself as a pace car of sorts. Let the pace car stay a good distance (at least 10-15 car lengths) ahead of you, as you want him to be the center of attention for anyone who might be watching. While keeping tabs on his brake lights (which, if you’re driving on the interstate, should indicate to you to slow down), make sure you’re also paying attention (see how these things work with one another?) by watching the opposite lanes.

Lastly, get to know the roads you’re driving -this may help you the most of all when trying to avoid a ticket. If you’ve got a particular route that you drive on a regular basis, you should be aware of where you typically see police officers and how often they typically come around. I can tell you off the top of my head that there are five specific areas in a one-mile stretch of road between my house and my son’s school where police will sit and watch for speeders.

The same goes for interstate driving. The police aren’t stupid – they know we’re looking for them. That’s why they will sit on the interstate on-ramps and behind bushes in the median – because they think you’re only looking for the obvious spots. But now you know better.

On a final note, all the things mentioned above are done so in the assumption that you are being careful. We don’t mind getting your speed fix, but we certainly don’t encourage recklessness such as tailgating at high speeds, weaving in and out of traffic or conducting yourself in other dangerous ways behind the wheel. If you’re going to speed, that’s fine. But be smart and be careful; if you’re not, a speeding ticket is the least of your worries.

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Jonathan Swigart is an award-winning journalist and has been around the automotive world his entire life. "Moving Violations" will explore some of the basic aspects of driving that drivers often overlook, among other topics related to driving and the auto industry. He lives in Champaign, Illinois with his wife and son and works at the University of Illinois.

You can reach Jonathan by emailing newsdesk@automotiveforums.com