study finds speeding is the new limit 79 of americans do it oftenThe AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety confirms what most commuters already suspect: speeding has become completely normalized on American roads.In fact, 79 percent of drivers admit to speeding at least occasionally, and nearly three in ten flatly agree with the sentiment that "no one actually drives the speed limit" anymore.The survey reveals a fascinating psychological gap between posted black-and-white signs and what drivers perceive as actual speeding. Across residential streets, rural highways, and arterial roads, respondents generally didn't consider a vehicle to be "speeding" until it traveled roughly 10 mph over the posted limit. On urban highways with a 70 mph limit, drivers didn't classify the behavior as real speeding until flow hit 78 mph.AdvertisementAdvertisementDangerous speeds were defined even higher. Drivers didn't view traffic as genuinely hazardous until speeds reached 44 mph in a residential neighborhood, 85 mph on an urban highway, or 88 mph on a rural highway.study finds speeding is the new limit 79 of americans do it oftenWhy We Speed-and Why We Slow DownThe breakdown of driver mindsets shows that few people drive fast purely for the thrill of it. Instead, social pressure and daily traffic dynamics dictate pace:Passing Slower Vehicles (31%): The primary driver motivation.Arriving Faster (25%): Pure time-saving strategy.Flow of Traffic (21%): Speeding simply to avoid holding up other drivers.Habit (19%): Viewing speeding as standard daily behavior.On the flip side, fear of law enforcement remains the single biggest deterrent. Avoiding a speeding ticket was cited by 79 percent of respondents as their primary reason to slow down, closely followed by preventing a crash (72%) and navigating poor weather conditions (60%).study finds speeding is the new limit 79 of americans do it oftenEnforcement Over EngineeringWhile speeding played a role in nearly 30 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2024, drivers are remarkably picky about how authorities should handle the problem.AdvertisementAdvertisementAn overwhelming 87 percent of respondents support an increased police presence in high-crash corridors, and 71 percent support automated speed cameras in those same areas. However, enthusiasm drops sharply for physical traffic-calming infrastructure. Only 43 percent supported speed humps in crash-prone areas, 40 percent backed rumble strips, and roundabouts garnered a meager 39 percent approval rating.study finds speeding is the new limit 79 of americans do it oftenMotorists expressed a similar hesitation toward vehicle-based safety tech. While drivers generally accept dashboard alerts that warn when they exceed the limit, support plunges for mandatory Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) systems that actively limit vehicle speed or prevent override.So drivers want safer roads and more policing in dangerous zones, but they want to retain ultimate control over the gas pedal.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.