We all have places to be and people to see. Most adults have tightly scheduled days with work, appointments, extra-curriculars, school, and hobbies. When days are jam-packed, some people are more likely to speed on the road to get to where they are going…and many people are just naturally speed demons. Either way, you are actually creating more wear and tear on your vehicle by speeding around town.
Speeding is probably one of the top bad driving habits there is. Of course there are others, such as driving on empty, stopping and going too quickly, or accelerating too slowly; speeding can be not only deadly but also a poor choice for your vehicle’s overall health.
What are some of the negative effects on a vehicle due to speeding?
Auto experts at Christian Brothers Automotive state that vehicles perform optimally between 40 to 60 mph; driving much faster than this will empty your gas tank more quickly and can cause faster wear and tear on your transmission. Not only does speeding in general use fuel more quickly, but so does accelerating full-throttle.
Also, because you are driving faster and harder, your engine is working just the same, causing more wear and tear over the long run.
When you are driving, obstacles don’t just move out of your way. Stopping fast enough to avoid hitting a pothole, item in the road, or speed bump is more challenging when you are zooming around. Encountering one of those while speeding can cause significant damage to the vehicle’s undercarriage, can dent the bumper, and can mess up the alignment.
Interestingly, the European Union is working on technology that will keep drivers from speeding:
“The speed-limiting technology, called intelligent speed assistance, uses video cameras, satellite location data or both to detect when drivers go over the speed limit, and curbs their ability to speed up further by restricting engine power. Drivers can override the system, depending on the model, by pressing harder on the gas pedal, for example” (NYTimes).
This will more than likely not only save lives but also increase the overall lifespan of vehicles’ engines among other things.
As we are all busy buzzing around trying to catch an appointment, bringing our kids to soccer and piano practice, or just trying to get home to binge watch a new show, we all need to keep in mind the potential long-term damage excessive speeding can do to our vehicles.
If you end up in an unfortunate accident due to speeding, contact Downtown Autobody in Rohnert Park, CA. They can help you with your paint or auto body repair needs.
