Which of the following is an example of a Fatal 5 risk factor?

• A. Loud exhaust
• B. Driving with no insurance
• C. Ignoring road markings
• D. Speeding

Answer: (D)

Speeding is a classic example of a Fatal 5 risk factor because it directly links to both the chance of a crash and how severe that crash can be. When you drive faster, your ability to spot hazards and react in time doesn’t improve, but the distance you need to stop grows and the energy released in a collision increases. Your thinking distance (how long you take to react) and your braking distance both rise with speed, so the likelihood of a crash and the impact if one occurs go up significantly. That combination of higher crash risk and greater injury potential is what makes speeding a primary Fatal 5 factor that traffic safety efforts target.

The other options describe risky behaviours or illegal actions, but they aren’t counted among the Fatal 5. Loud exhaust isn’t a direct factor in fatal crashes; ignoring road markings is a general driving error rather than a core Fatal 5 risk factor; driving with no insurance is a serious offence, but it’s not one of the Fatal 5 risk factors used in road policing.

So speeding is the example that fits the Fatal 5 concept.