My manager always asks me to drive/ride carefully when I’m going home or out of town. I was wondering why, and on one such occasion, we had just the time to discuss on it.
I want to calculate the time I save if I decide to drive at high and average speeds (KMPH – kilometers per hour).
My destination is 300 kms away and is divided into 5 parts:
- My home to City: 10 kms.
- City to the Suburbs: 10 kms.
- 6-lane highway: 150 kms.
- 1-lane road, without median: 100 kms.
- Bumpy, single road for ongoing and oncoming vehicles via villages: 30 kms.
The average speed I travel and the time I take is below – for high speed and average speeds:
| Road Stretch # | Average High Speed / Time Taken | Average Speed / Time Taken | Time Difference |
| 1 | 40 KMPH / 15 minutes | 30 KMPH / 20 minutes | 5 minutes |
| 2 | 40 KMPH / 15 minutes | 30 KMPH / 20 minutes | 5 minutes |
| 3 | 100 KMPH / 1.5 hours | 80 KMPH / 1 hr 52 mins | 22 minutes |
| 4 | 70 KMPH / 1 hr 26 mins | 50 KMPH / 2 hours | 34 minutes |
| 5 | 40 KMPH / 45 minutes | 30 KMPH / 1 hour | 15 minutes |
| Total Time | 4 hours 11 minutes | 5 hours 32 minutes | 1 hour 21 minutes |
The total time I save by deciding to drive at high speed is 1 hour 21 minutes. Is this worth the risk?
Now, anyone who have ever driven or traveled would know that – the control of the vehicle decreases as the speed increases. The studies show that after about 50 KMPH speed, the control of the vehicle drops at an exponential rate. Meaning, if we drive at 60 KMPH, we can react and control to obstacles in front of our vehicles for about 100 meters. It drops to about 70 meters at 70 KMPH speed, to 50 at 80 KMPH speed and may be about 20 meters at 100 KMPH speed. I may not be right on the numbers, but I’m right on the point I’m trying to make.
The point is, drive at reasonable speed where you have complete control of the vehicle. Start early, at non-peak hours to avoid traffic. Reason with what we stand to gain in the time we save by driving at high speeds. Think if it’s worth the risk and if we’re being responsible to our families. That’s the point.
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Hi Sri,
Very good thought. Let it take few hours. Safety of self and others stands at highest priority compared to few hours of extra time.
Nice thought and calculations… that shows how much time you have
Sri,
good thought man. Nice way of putting thoughts..