A new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey of 16,000 drivers finds many motorists now treat going 10 mph over the limit as routine.
According to the study, highlighted this week by AAA Texas and the Detroit Free Press, nearly a third of drivers believe “no one actually drives the speed limit.” Almost half said keeping up with traffic is safer than obeying the posted limit.
The most common reasons for speeding were passing slower cars, arriving sooner, or not holding others up. Many said they do not expect a ticket until they are 10 to 12 mph over. The threat of a ticket was the strongest reason people said they would slow down, followed by avoiding a crash and bad weather.
Nothing slows you down like a crash. Speeding is the No. 1 factor in roadway crashes in Texas. Keep it safe and slow down. #BeSafeDriveSmart #DriveLikeATexan pic.twitter.com/TNGHsxWhjj
— TxDOT (@TxDOT) July 27, 2026
Drivers generally supported more police in high-crash areas and automated cameras there. They liked in-car warnings that they are speeding, but not technology that automatically limits a vehicle’s speed.
Nationally, speeding was a factor in about 29% of traffic deaths in 2024, according to NHTSA data cited with the research — more than 11,000 fatalities.
AAA Texas said unsafe speed contributed to more than 24,000 Texas crashes in 2024, including 490 fatal crashes. TxDOT has said speed was the top contributing factor in Texas crashes last year.
Foundation president David Yang said when drivers take cues from surrounding traffic instead of the speed limit, it becomes harder to prevent crashes.
Michigan State Police recently increased speed patrols after similar findings. Texas agencies have also run back-to-school and summer speed campaigns.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
