Lynchburg Police

With summer approaching and everyone heading out on the road, it’s a good time to talk about safety out on the highway. Almost all injuries and deaths on the highway can be avoided if people are aware of the driving behavior that regularly causes injuries and fatalities on our roads. Reckless or erratic driving kills hundreds of people both on the highway and in town every year.

Tailgating has resulted in the rise of rear end collisions and is prevalent on the highway today. Try to avoid tailgaters and “wolf packs” or groups of aggressive drivers. Try not to weave in and out of traffic, as it can cause a loss of control. Also avoid driving at excessive speeds and driving at more than 80 miles per hour. Every 5 miles an hour over the speed limit that you drive increases the energy of a crash significantly. Today’s best designed vehicles cannot absorb the energy of an impact at high speeds. The result is that the energy the vehicle doesn’t absorb is transferred to the body, which can cause significant injuries to everyone in both vehicles in the crash. Stay safe on the highway this summer by consistently driving the speed limit and avoiding reckless drivers.