Image Credit: Shutterstock.Nearly half of American drivers believe keeping pace with surrounding traffic is safer than sticking to the speed limit, according to a major new study examining attitudes towards speeding in the US.Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that while drivers generally consider posted limits appropriate, many do not believe strict compliance is always necessary.The study combined eight focus groups involving 58 drivers with a nationally representative survey of more than 16,000 licensed US motorists.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe findings reveal a complicated relationship with speeding, with motorists often considering traffic flow, road conditions, their own driving ability, perceived police tolerance and the likelihood of enforcement when deciding what speed is acceptable.10MPH Over the Limit Is Widely Seen as AcceptableImage Credit: Gary Bertsch/FacebookOne of the clearest findings from the focus groups was the emergence of an unofficial speeding threshold.Around 10mph above the posted limit was commonly viewed by participants as acceptable and unlikely to result in enforcement. Depending on the road and circumstances, some focus-group participants considered speeds as high as 25mph above the limit acceptable.Drivers also typically expected police enforcement to begin at around 10 to 12mph above the posted limit, depending on the type of road.AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, 49% of drivers agreed it was safer to drive with the flow of traffic than obey the speed limit, demonstrating the influence other motorists can have on individual driving behavior.Speeding Isn't Just About Saving TimeGetting somewhere faster isn't the only reason drivers put their foot down.Focus-group participants associated speeding with autonomy and personal freedom, with many describing their choice of speed as a matter of personal judgement based on the conditions and their own driving ability.Some also described satisfaction from controlling their vehicle, demonstrating driving skills and feeling competent behind the wheel. Modern cars and roads were sometimes described as making driving monotonous, with some participants saying speed could make the experience more engaging.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's despite the serious consequences associated with excessive speed. The report cites NHTSA figures estimating that almost 30% of US motor-vehicle fatalities in 2023 were related to speeding.Police Enforcement Gets Strongest SupportFile Photo Credit: David Carpio / ShutterstockWhen it comes to tackling speeding, motorists appear considerably more receptive to some measures than others.Increased police enforcement received the strongest backing, with 88% of surveyed drivers supporting greater police presence in areas with a high potential for speed-related crashes.Automated enforcement was also relatively popular, with 73% supporting its use in areas with a high potential for speed-related crashes. By comparison, fewer than half supported infrastructure-based measures designed to reduce speeds, despite those measures generally being viewed as effective.AdvertisementAdvertisementAttitudes towards Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) also varied according to how much control the technology exercised over the vehicle. Acceptance ranged from nearly a quarter to more than half, with support falling as systems became more restrictive.AAA Identifies Five Types of DriverResearchers ultimately concluded that there is no single American attitude towards speeding.They identified five distinct mindsets: Strict Compliance Advocates, representing 21% of drivers; Safety-Focused Realists at 14%; Principled Pragmatists at 26%; Tolerant but Non-Compliant drivers at 23%; and Autonomy-First drivers at 16%.The differences are substantial. Strict Compliance Advocates view obeying speed limits as part of responsible and safe driving, while Autonomy-First motorists strongly believe the driver, rather than authorities or technology, should decide how fast to travel.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe findings suggest efforts to reduce speeding may therefore need to account for the very different attitudes drivers have towards speed limits, risk and enforcement.According to the AAA Foundation, the five distinct mindsets suggest a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to be optimal, with different groups potentially requiring more targeted approaches to reducing speeding-related crashes.