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Feel like you're going too slow by following the speed limit when driving? Recent research shows you're not alone in that perception.
Speeding has become so common that many drivers consider going 10 mph over the posted speed limit acceptable, while nearly half believe keeping up with traffic is safer than obeying the speed limit, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
The findings suggest many drivers no longer define speeding by the posted speed limit alone, AAA states in a news release. Three in 10 drivers agreed with the statement, "No one actually drives the speed limit," highlighting how speeding has become normalized for many motorists.
Upper Peninsula roads may seem especially tempting to speed because traffic tends to be modest and the communities spread out.
But AAA warns that going faster when behind the wheel comes with real consequences -- speeding was a factor in nearly 30% of traffic fatalities in 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Too many drivers have convinced themselves that speeding is just part of driving," Adrienne Woodland, spokeswoman for AAA - The Auto Club Group, said in the news release. "The reality is that crashes don't care what's considered normal. The faster you're going, the less time you have to avoid a dangerous situation."
The study found drivers most often speed because they --
-- Want to get around slower drivers, 31%;
-- Want to reach their destination faster, 25%; and
-- Don't want to hold up traffic, 21%.
The study also found many drivers don't expect enforcement until they are traveling roughly 10 to 12 mph above the posted speed limit, which may help explain why so many view modest speeding as acceptable, according to AAA.
The threat of a ticket is the strongest incentive for people to slow down, the study indicates. Drivers said they are most likely to reduce their speed to --
-- Avoid getting a ticket, 79%;
-- Avoid a crash, 72%; and
-- Respond to bad weather, 60%.
Despite growing acceptance of speeding, the study shows drivers overwhelmingly support targeted speed enforcement. Additionally --
-- 87% support increased police presence in areas with a history of speed-related crashes;
-- 88% support increased enforcement in areas with the potential for speed-related crashes; and
-- About seven in 10 support automated speed enforcement cameras in those locations.
The latter result is surprising given the recent backlash over surveillance cameras, though perhaps such targeted use is more acceptable.
However, support drops when measures take control away from the driver. While more than 90% believe speed humps are effective, fewer than half support installing them in their own neighborhoods. Drivers also favor warning systems that alert them when they're speeding over technology that actively limits vehicle speed, according to the study.
"Drivers may not agree on every solution, but they recognize that speeding is a serious safety issue," Woodland said in the news release. "The findings show strong support for targeted enforcement in places where speed-related crashes are happening. That's an important step toward making roads safer."
She added, "There’s a lot of pressure to go with the flow of traffic, especially when everyone around you seems to be speeding. But safe driving isn't about matching the fastest vehicle on the road. It's about making sure you have enough time to see a problem, react, and avoid a crash."
AAA recommends drivers choose their speed based on --
-- The posted speed limit;
-- Visibility conditions;
-- Road and weather conditions; and
-- The amount of space around their vehicle.
If the surrounding traffic is moving faster than the speed limit, AAA recommends --
-- Stay in the right lane when possible;
-- Maintain a steady, predictable speed; and
-- Increase following distance and monitor approaching vehicles.