“No one actually drives the speed limit.” Three in ten drivers agreed with that statement in a new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS), highlighting how speeding has become normalized on today’s roads.

While most drivers agreed that posted speed limits are appropriate, many also considered driving 10 mph over the limit acceptable, and nearly half believed keeping up with traffic is safer than obeying the posted limit.

Those attitudes matter because speeding continues to have deadly consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was a factor in nearly 30% of traffic fatalities in 2024. 

“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. “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.” 

The findings suggest many drivers aren’t speeding simply to save time—they’re often convincing themselves that speeding is the right choice for the situation.

Drivers’ top reasons for speeding:

• To get around slower drivers (31%)

• To reach their destination faster (25%)

• To avoid holding up traffic (21%)  

Drivers’ top reasons to slow down:

• To avoid getting a ticket (79%)  

• To avoid being involved in a crash (72%)

• Bad weather (60%)  

The report also found that drivers generally prefer countermeasures that encourage safer speeds over those that physically force them to slow down. Drivers expressed strong support for increased police presence in areas with a history (87%) or potential (88%) for speed-related crashes, and roughly seven in ten supported automated speed cameras in those locations. Drivers also viewed advisory Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) – in-vehicle warnings or alerts when a driver exceeds the speed limit – more favorably than technology that automatically limits vehicle speed.

Support declined for countermeasures that remove driver choice. Although more than nine in ten drivers believed speed humps are effective, fewer than half supported installing them in their own neighborhoods. Support for ISA decreased as the technology became more restrictive, i.e. if the driver could not override the system.

“There is no silver bullet for addressing traffic safety risks caused by speeding,” Dr. Yang said. “Understanding which strategies drivers are most willing to adopt can help policymakers and safety professionals develop interventions that are both effective and publicly acceptable.” 

Changing attitudes around speeding will take time, but drivers can make a difference now by making safe speed choices each time they get behind the wheel.

“Choosing the right speed isn’t about how quickly you’ll get there—or how fast everyone else is driving,” said Dr. Bill Van Tassel, Manager of AAA’s national driver training program. “It’s about choosing a pace that gives you the time and space to react when something unexpected happens. That’s what helps prevent crashes.” 

Choose your speed based on:

• The posted speed limit – think of it as a benchmark for a safe and appropriate speed.  The posted speed limit is the maximum, not the minimum speed you should be driving.

• Visibility —What you can see determines how much time you have to react.

• Road conditions — Weather and traction affect your ability to stop safely.

• Space around your vehicle — Don’t let surrounding traffic dictate your speed; leave yourself enough room to respond to the unexpected.

If you find yourself driving the speed limit while everyone around you is speeding, 

• Stay in the rightmost lane and avoid driving in the passing lane.

• Maintain a steady, predictable speed.

• Increase your following distance and watch for faster vehicles approaching from behind.