Photo: Pixabay
Oct. 20 is International Sloth Day. We’d like to take just a moment to pay tribute to this random holiday. And what better way to do that than to share just five reasons to drive more slowly.
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Photo: Pixabay
Save lives
Slothish driving helps keep everyone on the roads a bit safer. Per World Resources Institute, reducing your travel speed by just 1 mph triggers a 6-percent decrease in traffic-related fatalities. One of the main reasons for this is that speeding encourages drivers to have tunnel vision, which impedes depth perception. If you’re traveling at a more sloth-like pace, you’re more likely to be more aware of other drivers as well as pedestrians.
As WRI points out, lower car speeds create a safer and more relaxing context for cyclists and pedestrians. Cities with speed-slowing infrastructures, such as narrower lanes and wider sidewalks, will likely have a higher percentage of commuters who prefer to walk or bike instead of drive to work.
Photo: Pixabay
Minimize your stress
Have you ever seen a stressed-out sloth? Probably not. That’s because it’s hard to feel frazzled when you’re traveling at a more unhurried pace. It’s a simple way to curb road rage. Instead of having a fit when someone cuts you off on the highway, you can focus on enjoying the drive since getting to your destination as fast as possible won’t be your main objective.
Increase your vehicle’s fuel economy
Traveling more slowly can minimize the gas your auto consumes. Per FuelEconomy.gov, speeding reduces your vehicle’s mileage by 15-30 percent on the highway and 10-40 percent in heavy traffic. By contrast, if you use a driver-feedback device to remind you to drive within the speed limit, you can improve your mileage by as much as 10 percent.
Boost the economy
Reduced vehicle speeds can also have a positive impact on the economy. According to the WRI, recent studies have found that streets with lower speed limits promote pedestrian traffic. This, in turn, improves real estate value, while encouraging consumers to spend more on local services and retail. For instance, when san Francisco’s Mission District incorporated narrower vehicle lanes to slow traffic flow, 40 percent of retailers reported an overall sales increase while 60 percent of them reported increased spending by locals.
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News Sources: TimeandDate, Zenhabits.net, World Resources Institute, FuelEconomy.gov
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.
