Overview
- A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study released Tuesday found three in ten drivers agreed “no one actually drives the speed limit” and most said up to 10 mph over the limit is acceptable.
- More than half of surveyed drivers said keeping up with surrounding traffic feels safer than obeying posted limits, and some respondents described going as much as 25 mph over the limit as normal.
- Federal crash data cited in the report show speeding was a factor in nearly 30% of U.S. traffic fatalities in 2024, with reporting that over 11,000 people died in crashes involving a speeding driver that year.
- The study found a contradiction in motives: 79% of drivers said they slow to avoid a ticket while 72% cited avoiding a crash, showing enforcement risk often outweighs crash risk in real decisions.
- Respondents strongly favored targeted enforcement and automated speed cameras and preferred advisory Intelligent Speed Assistance over systems that force speed limits, a split that suggests policymakers should balance effectiveness with public acceptability.