Many drivers tend to step on the accelerator during longer journeys, in the false belief that this will save time and get to their destination faster.
The debate over speed limits on roads generates divergent opinions between drivers and mobility experts.
In , speed limits are more flexible and many motorways they don’t even have a limit of speed. Others, like Portugal, have a speed limit of 120 km/hcontrolled by radar in many sections.
There are drivers who believe that traveling at 120 km/h will get them to their destination faster than if they traveled at 100.
However, note the, a mathematical approach allows you to objectively analyze whether overcoming these restrictions has a significant impact on travel time.
On the TikTok account, a mathematician explains why perception that driving at higher speeds significantly reduces travel time does not always correspond to reality.
In fact, as speed increases, the benefits in terms of time savings become marginal.
This phenomenon is due to the inverse relationship between speed and timein which the initial gains with increasing speed are much higher to gains from overcoming certain limits.
For example, when it happens from 60 km/h to 120 km/hthe time needed to travel one kilometer is reduced by halfbut when going from 120 km/h to 140 km/h, the time saved It’s just a few seconds.
In other words, speed increases offer fewer and fewer benefits in terms of time. If doubling the initial speed can reduce the time by half, subsequent increases do not maintain this ratio.
According to the expert, “above certain limits, the effort to drive at higher speeds does not compensate for the minimum time gained“. This phenomenon is particularly relevant on roads such as motorwayswhere legal speeds are generally sufficient to ensure efficient travel.
Furthermore, the risks associated with exceeding speed limits, both in terms of safety and financial sanctions, make this questionable behavior.
Exceeding 120 km/h on motorways not only increases the risk of accidentsas it entails fines that can reach high amounts and the removal of points from your driving license.
Respecting speed limits not only improves road safety, but also rreduces fuel consumption and polluting emissions. On the other hand, maintaining constant speeds within permitted limits improves the vehicle’s efficiency — and contributes to more sustainable driving.
