Drivers urged to keep speed in sport, backed by Adrian Chiles-Practice DVLA Driving Theory Test Questions Online

Keep Speed in Sport says road safety charity and transport research body

As the sporting season hots up, Brake, the road safety charity, backed by sporting celebrities, is calling on sports lovers who drive to keep speed in sport and off the roads.

A worrying minority of high profile sports people, often footballers, are sometimes sadly in the media spotlight for the wrong reason:  driving offences, most frequently speeding and often in high performance cars.

This sad abuse of power, particularly by role models admired by young people, has prompted Brake to ask TRL, the Transport Research Laboratory to try to demonstrate the power of speed in terms that may drive home the danger to some sports lovers.

20mph is fast enough around homes and schools. At this speed a driver could stop in time if a child ran out three car lengths ahead (about 12 metres).  But a car driven at 30mph would hit the child at about 27mph. A child hit at 27mph is the equivalent of a child falling backwards out the window of a three storey house (a drop of about 7.3 metres).

The energy of the collision between a car and a child at this speed, says TRL, is equivalent to:

• about 18 times that of a world class golfer’s drive
• about eight times that of a world class footballer’s free kick
• about 20 times that of a world class tennis player’s serve

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer at Brake, says: “Many people have an intention to abide by speed limits but then don’t, and many people who do stick to speed limits think that 30mph is ‘slow enough’ because it is the limit on so many residential streets – but this is a limit that’s too fast. We are committed to convincing and reminding drivers to drive at 20 mph or lower around schools and homes. Explaining the power of speed is one way to help drivers do this. Just imagine a child being kicked in the head eight times by a world class footballer, and you get some sense of the horror.”

Dr Nick Reed, senior researcher from TRL, who calculated the energy in sports terms, says: “I was alarmed by the finding that a child hit at 27mph was equivalent to a child falling backwards out the window of a three storey house. I wondered if there were other analogies that may help people understand just how dangerous it is to be driving at 30mph in residential streets should the worst happen. Many will marvel at the capabilities of international sports stars over the summer. It is startling to realise that the energy of the impact between a car and a child would be so many times greater than that applied to a drive by the world’s best golfers, a serve by the world’s best tennis players or a free kick by the world’s best footballers. Keep speed in sport and keep our roads safe.”

Sports personalities back Brake’s campaign Keep Speed in Sport:

Broadcaster and World Cup presenter Adrian Chiles says: “I am proud to help pledge my support to the life-saving work that Brake does. As a dad, I urge all drivers to think about the safety of kids when they’re driving through a community. Everyone can help look out for our kids by slowing down - it’s a simple step, but a crucial one.”

Formula one racer Eddie Irvine says: “I get my kicks on the track not on the road. Speeding in built up areas puts children’s lives at risk.” 

Gold medal winning cyclist Nicole Cooke says:  “When I race all I think about is speed. But in sport, just like in every day life, I cannot go over the limit of what is safe because it may end in disaster, either in a crash or putting others in danger. Sport is a good outlet for energy and high speed, but speed is dangerous on public roads. I support Brake’s campaign to Keep Speed in Sport and off the roads.”

Paralympic gold medal winner Danny Crates says: “I was just 21 when I lost my arm in a road crash. Keep Speed in Sport.”

For interviews with Brake call 01484 550067 or for TRL call 01344 770141