Final answer:
The situation described in the question models a piecewise function with different equations for different intervals of Steve's trip.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation described in the question models a piecewise function. A piecewise function is defined by different equations for different intervals of the input variable. In this case, Steve's trip can be divided into two intervals: when he was driving at the speed limit and when he was driving slower than the speed limit due to the accident. Each interval represents a different equation for the function.