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      01-02-2013, 08:34 PM   #29
Blauweisser
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Drives: 125i M-Sport
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oz

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For those who think that speeding isn't such a big deal, consider this: the kinetic energy of a moving body is equal to half the mass of the body times the square of the velocity. Comparing a car travelling at 100 km/h and 140 km/h, the car travelling at 140 km/h has nearly twice as much kinetic energy (actually 1.96 times) as when travelling at 100 km/h. That means in a collision, twice as much destructive energy can be transferred to the car and its occupants, other vehicles and their occupants, or to other objects. You've seen the TV news, so you know this is real.

This is of course quite separate to the increase in stopping distance should you have to brake, and other considerations such as the condition of the road itself.

Concerning the first point, we were travelling on the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane yesterday. There's a section in the 110 km/h zone where chevron's (V's) have been marked on the road, with signs recommending you keep two chevrons distance between you and the next car to allow safe stopping. Trouble is, when we tried that, there was always some moron who would dive in.

Concerning that second point, I don't think that there's a public road in Australia where it's safe to travel at more than 110 km/h. Even the best roads here are goat tracks compared to those in Europe.

If you want to drive fast, buy a crash helmet and go to track days at your local raceway.
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