What is considered a safe speed when driving?

The concept of a safe speed when driving is fundamentally about ensuring that you can react appropriately to unexpected situations, such as emergencies. Therefore, the speed that allows you to stop for an emergency is crucial. This means driving at a speed that gives you enough time to react and stop if necessary, considering all factors like road conditions, visibility, traffic, and the performance of your vehicle.

When driving, it's essential to maintain a speed that not only adheres to legal limits but also takes into account current driving conditions. Factors such as weather, traffic density, and road conditions can all impact how quickly you might need to stop. Keeping a safe speed allows you to have a buffer for unforeseen circumstances, which is a critical aspect of defensive driving.

While adhering to the speed limit is important, and driving with the flow of traffic can also be a good practice for maintaining safety, these factors do not necessarily ensure that you can stop in time for an emergency. Being 5 km/h below the speed limit may seem cautious, but if conditions warrant faster speeds, it may not provide the necessary stopping distance in critical situations. Therefore, the ability to stop for an emergency encompasses the broader concept of safe driving practices.