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The High Cost of Speeding: Who’s Doing It and the Consequences

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By Susan Meyer
Updated November 19, 2025
Edited By Beth Swanson
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

Credentials
  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance (AINS)
  • Professional Risk Consultant (PRC)
  • Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
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  1. Why people speed
  2. Who is speeding?
  3. Consequences of speeding
  4. Reducing speed

A Crime with Consequences

Speeding is one of the most commonly broken laws in the U.S. In fact, in a survey we did a couple of years ago, nearly 90% of drivers admitted to speeding.  

While the rush to save a few minutes might make speeding seem like a victimless crime in the moment, the consequences of driving above the speed limit can be severe. In fact, excessive speed is a contributing factor in nearly one-third of fatal car accidents.[1] Not to mention, if you’re caught speeding, you also often have to pay for the violation and face increased insurance costs going forward. 

Let’s delve into why people speed, what consequences they face, and the broader societal impact can help promote safer driving habits and better awareness.

Why People Speed

When asked their reasons for speeding in a survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the reason the majority (62%) of people cited was: keeping up with the flow of traffic. So it’s a self-fulfilling cycle: people speed because other people speed.[2] 

Other reasons that people cited were running late or emergencies. Drivers often speed because they're behind schedule, be it for work, school, appointments or flights. The pressure to make up for lost time can override concern for legal or safety consequences. Additionally, some people speed just because they’re overconfident in their driving abilities, which can lead to riskier and more aggressive driving behaviors.

Who Is Speeding the Most

From the same NHTSA study, we can learn a lot about how demographic data affects people’s likelihood to speed. When we consider the data regionally and by such factors as gender, age and educational level, we see some interesting patterns. 

For the purposes of this survey, speeders were the 17% of the population who said they often or always driver 15 mph over the speed limit, sometimes speeders are the 44% of the population who said they sometimes or rarely travel 15 mph over the speed limit and non speeders are the 39% of the population who said they never speed 15 mph over the speed limit.

 

Key findings:

  • Age is a key indicator of the likelihood of speeding. The percent of speeders consistently goes down from nearly a quarter of drivers speeding in the 18 to 24 age group to only 6% in the 65+ group. The non-speeding group also goes up proportionately to age. Interestingly, the group of "sometimes speeders" stays basically the same across all age groups. 
  • Men are more likely to be speeders than women, and women are more likely to be non-speeders. That said, again, the group of sometimes speeders is exactly the same across men and women.
  • Pickup trucks are interestingly driven by more speeders AND more non-speeders than any other vehicle type. Trucks have the smallest number of speeders of any group.
Speeding by age and gender

Source: The Zebra

Speeding also varies regionally here are some trends across the country:

  • The region with the most speeders is the Southwest Coast region of California, Arizona and Hawaii, followed closely by the Northeast region of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Both regions have residents reporting to be regular speeders at a rate close to 20%
  • In terms of sometimes speeders, the regional differences are greater than was the case with the age, gender and vehicle type demographics. The rate of sometimes speeders as high as 48% (in the Northeast region) to as low as 36% in the Midwest region, comprising Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
  • The highest rate of non-speeders is also in this Midwest region. Here, well over half of people (56%) say they never speed.
Speeders by state

Source: The Zebra

Legal and Financial Consequences of Speeding

Speeding isn't just dangerous; it's also costly. Here are the most common repercussions:

1. Traffic Fines

Most speeding violations result in fines that vary depending on how far over the speed limit the driver was going. Repeat offenses or extreme speeding can lead to even heftier penalties.

2. Points on Your License

Speeding adds points to a driver's record. Accumulating too many points can result in license suspension or mandatory driving courses.

3. Court Costs and Legal Fees

In some cases, especially with high-speed or reckless driving charges, the driver may have to appear in court — often leading to legal fees or additional court costs.

4. Vehicle Impoundment or License Suspension

Excessive speeding (e.g., 30+ mph over the limit) can lead to immediate arrest, impoundment of the vehicle, and suspension of the driver's license in many jurisdictions.

5. Increased Insurance Rates

Insurers view speeding violations as a risk factor. A single ticket can cause your auto insurance premium to rise by 20% to 30%, and repeated offenses can make you uninsurable with some carriers.

Here’s how much a violation for speeding can set you back on average:

Insurance Increases by Speeding Ticket

Updating data...

Accident/Violation Avg. Annual Premium Avg. Monthly Premium
None $2,206 $184
Speeding 6 - 10 MPH over limit $2,686 $224
Speeding 11 - 15 MPH over limit $2,719 $227
Speeding 16 - 20 MPH over limit $2,762 $230
Speeding 21 - 25 MPH over limit $2,859 $238

Source: The Zebra

Reducing Speeding: What Can Be Done?

Addressing the problem of speeding requires a combination of personal responsibility, technological intervention and public policy:

  • Education and Awareness Campaigns: Public service announcements and driver education can help highlight the dangers and costs of speeding.
  • Traffic Calming Measures: Speed bumps, roundabouts and narrower roads can naturally reduce vehicle speeds in neighborhoods and high-risk zones.
  • Enforcement: Automated speed cameras, increased patrols and stricter penalties can act as deterrents.
  • Technology: Many new cars now feature intelligent speed assistance (ISA), adaptive cruise control and real-time speed alerts to discourage speeding.
  • Personal Discipline: Drivers can use apps to monitor their habits, set alerts when speeding, or allow more travel time to avoid feeling rushed.

Wrapping up

That lead foot may save you a few minutes, but it can cost you your license, your finances or even your life. The next time you're tempted to press the gas pedal a little harder, remember that arriving safely is far more important than arriving quickly.

Sources

  1. Almost One-Third of Traffic Fatalities Are Speed-Related Crashes. [NHTSA]

  2. 2022-2023 National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors. [NHTSA]