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AAA study finds many drivers view speeding as a normal part of driving
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says speeding was a factor in nearly 30% of U.S. traffic fatalities in 2024.
A new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that some U.S. drivers increasingly treat speeding as routine behavior. While most respondents said posted speed limits are appropriate, many also said driving about 10 mph over the limit is acceptable, and nearly half reported that keeping up with traffic is safer than obeying posted speeds, according to the study summarized by Insurance Journal.
The findings point to a culture problem, where drivers take cues from nearby vehicles rather than the posted limits, which can make crashes harder to prevent and roads less safe for everyone. The study also cites National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data showing speeding was a factor in nearly 30% of traffic fatalities in 2024.
AAA researchers said drivers generally prefer safety measures that encourage safer speeds instead of systems that physically force vehicles to slow down. In the study, respondents showed strong support for increased police presence in areas with a history of speed-related crashes (87%) or potential for them (88%), and about 7 in 10 backed automated speed cameras in those locations.
The report also examined Intelligent Speed Assistance, where in-vehicle warnings alert drivers when they exceed limits, and found drivers viewed advisory versions more favorably than technology that automatically limits speed. The outlet reports that support for ISA fell when drivers could not override the system, and that researchers said there is no single solution for speeding-related risks.