The American Automobile Association (AAA) found in a recent study that 3 in 10 American drivers believe that "no one actually drives the speed limit."
Nearly half of drivers said they believed keeping up with traffic is safer than driving the speed limit, and many drivers considered driving 10 miles per hour over the limit acceptable, according to a AAA news release.
When drivers view speeding as normal, it creates a culture that makes crashes more difficult to prevent and roads less safe, David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said in the prepared release.
And if you've ever wondered why that car just sped past you or slowed to a crawl, AAA also asked drivers what their reasons were for speeding
up, or slowing down.
Drivers' top reasons for speeding, according to AAA:
- To get around slower drivers (31%)
- To reach their destination faster (25%)
- To avoid holding up traffic (21%)
Drivers' top reasons to slow down, according to AAA:
- To avoid getting a ticket (79%)
- To avoid being involved in a crash (72%)
- Bad weather (60%)
You should choose your driving speed based on the posted speed limit, visibility, road conditions and space around your vehicle, according to AAA. If you're going the speed limit while everyone else is speeding, stay in the rightmost lane and stay out of the left lane, keep your speed steady and predictable, increase your following distance and watch for vehicles approaching from behind, according to AAA.
Here are some Columbus ODOT projects to look out for this week while you heed AAA's advice:
New Franklin County ODOT projects for the week of Aug. 21
- Interstate 270 southbound between Interstate 70 and the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge will be reduced to one lane from 8 p.m. Aug. 21 through 5 a.m. Aug. 24.
- The I-70 eastbound ramp to I-270 southbound on Columbus' East Side will close from 7 p.m. Aug. 21 through Aug. 24.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 eastbound to Brice Road to I-70 westbound to I-270 southbound
- Interstate 670 eastbound between Nelson Road and Stelzer Road will be reduced to two lanes from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Aug. 24.
- I-670 eastbound will be reduced to one lane overnight from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. Aug. 21 and Aug. 22.
- Interstate 71 southbound between North Broadway Street and Weber Road will be reduced to one lane from 10 p.m. Aug. 21 through 5 a.m. Aug. 24.
- The North Broadway Street ramp to I-71 southbound will close from 10 p.m. Aug. 21 through 5 a.m. Aug. 24.
- ODOT Detour: Silver Drive south to Weber Road ramp to I-71 southbound
- The Weber Road bridge over I-71 will close from 10 p.m. Aug. 21 through 5 a.m. Aug. 24.
- ODOT Detour: Silver Drive to East Hudson Street to Beulah Road, or the same route in reverse
- State Route 161 eastbound between Hamilton Road and New Albany Road will be reduced to two lanes overnight from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Aug. 21 to Aug. 22, and again overnight Aug. 23 to Aug. 24.
- The State Route 161 eastbound ramp to New Albany Road will close overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Aug. 23.
- ODOT Detour: State Route 161 eastbound to U.S. 62 to State Route 161 westbound to New Albany Road
- The I-270 eastbound ramp to I-71 northbound on Columbus' North Side will close overnight from 11 p.m. Aug. 24 to 5 a.m. Aug. 25.
- ODOT Detour: I-270 east to Cleveland Avenue to I-270 westbound to I-71 northbound
- The I-270 eastbound ramp to I-71 southbound on on the North Side will close overnight from 11 p.m. Aug. 24 to 5 a.m. Aug. 25
- ODOT Detour: I-270 eastbound to Cleveland Avenue to I-270 westbound to I-71 southbound
- I-71 southbound at I-270 on the North Side will be reduced to one lane overnight from 11 p.m. Aug. 24. to 5 a.m. Aug. 25.
New downtown Columbus ODOT projects for the week of Aug. 21
- I-70 westbound between State Route 315 and I-71 will close overnight from 10 p.m. Aug. 26. to 5 a.m. Aug. 27.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 westbound to I-71 northbound to I-670 westbound to I-70 westbound
- The I-70 westbound ramp to Rich Street/Town Street will close overnight from 8 p.m. Aug. 26. to 5 a.m. Aug. 27.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 westbound to State Route 315 northbound to Rich Street/Town Street
- The Mound Street ramp to I-70 westbound will close overnight from 8 p.m. Aug. 26. to 5 a.m. Aug. 27.
- ODOT Detour: Second Street to U.S. 62 to State Route 315 southbound to I-70 westbound
- I-70 eastbound between State Route 315 and I-71 will close overnight from 10 p.m. Aug. 28. to 5 a.m. Aug. 29. The I-71 northbound ramp to I-70 eastbound will remain open.
- ODOT Detour: I-70 eastbound to I-670 eastbound to I-71 southbound to I-70 eastbound
- State Route 315 northbound at I-70 will close overnight from 10 p.m. Aug. 28 to 5 a.m. Aug. 29.
- ODOT Detour: I-71 northbound to I-70 eastbound to I-71 northbound to I-670 westbound to State Route 315 northbound
Transportation and neighborhoods reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com, @NathanRHart on X and nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: AAA finds almost one-third of drivers think everyone speeds | Getting There
