State-by-state ranking: AAA finds drivers normalizing speeding

More than three-quarters of American drivers will break the speed limit, at least occasionally, but they are not necessarily trying to get to their destination more quickly, a new AAA survey finds. 

Big picture view:

In addition to most of the Americans who responded to the survey admitting to having a lead foot from time to time, approximately one-third told the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that speeding has become more normalized on U.S. roads. Many of them, too, agree on how fast is too fast: 10 mph over the posted cap. 

What they're saying:

"Findings from this research show that some drivers in the United States view speeding as a normal part of driving," said Dr. David Yang, President and Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

How often drivers speed

According to AAA’s numbers, 79% of drivers report that they will speed, at least from time to time. Fifteen percent say they speed frequently, while 30% indicate that they will do it sometimes, and 34% say they break the speed limit, but only rarely. The remaining 21% report that they do not speed.

Why drivers speed

The AAA survey found that many of the times drivers punch the gas is not because they want to cut their travel times. More often, traffic is the key difference. A greater percentage of drivers say they are more likely to step on it when they want to get around slower traffic (31%) than they want to get somewhere faster (25%). Just over a fifth (21%) say they are going too fast so they do not get in the way of other cars that are speeding.

In its statement, AAA determined that many times drivers are telling themselves that speeding is the right thing to do at the time. 

Why drivers don’t speed

As far as why they would not speed, getting caught is the  number one reason. Nearly eight in ten (79%) say they mind the posted limit to avoid getting a ticket. Seventy-two percent do so to keep from being involved in a wreck, while 60% will tap the brakes when the weather gets bad.

What they're saying:

"When people take cues from surrounding traffic instead of following posted speed limits, it creates a culture that makes crashes more difficult to prevent and roads less safe for everyone," Yang added.

What you can do:

AAA advises all drivers to mind the speed limit and reminds them that the posted number is the maximum, not the minimum. For those behind the wheel and obeying the law while everyone else is racing by, the organization has a few tips:

1. Stay in the rightmost lane and avoid driving in the passing lane.  
2. Maintain a steady, predictable speed. 
3. Increase your following distance and watch for faster vehicles approaching from behind. 

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