synonyms - "high rate of speed" or "high speed" to mean going fast


Why do reporters (and sometimes police officers) say that somebody was going at a high rate of speed when they actually mean high speed?


In physics, speed is already the rate of distance over time, otherwise known as velocity. Rate of speed is velocity over time, otherwise known as acceleration. By saying high rate of speed they would be implying picking up more speed.


Is there a social reason for using high rate of speed rather than high speed?




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