A new national study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety highlights a growing acceptance of speeding among American drivers and explores how risky driving behaviors continue to impact public safety and communities.
The August 2026 report shows most drivers agreed that posted speed limits are appropriate; however, many also considered driving 10 mph over the limit acceptable.
"Drivers generally viewed speed limits as appropriate, but often did not view strict compliance as necessary," the report's executive summary states.
Key findings also include:
- 48% of New York drivers believe it is safer to drive with the flow of traffic than obey the speed limit.
- 49% of drivers agreed with the statement: It’s safer for me to drive with the flow of traffic than obey the speed limit.
- Drivers typically expect enforcement to begin 10–12 mph over the limit, depending on roadway type.
- Speeds up to 25 mph above the posted limit were acceptable to drivers in certain circumstances.
"When people take cues from surrounding traffic instead of following posted speed limits, it creates a culture that makes crashes more difficult to prevent and roads less safe for everyone," David
Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said in a statement.
Speeding was a factor in nearly 29% of America's traffic fatalities in 2024, costing some 11,300 people their lives. Driving faster than the speed limit has been a factor in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities over the past 20 years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The federal agency lists traffic, running late and anonymity as motivations for drivers speeding.
Top 5 reasons for why New Yorkers say they speed
AAA's new report lists drivers' top reasons for speeding and slowing down in traffic. In New York state, drivers' reasons include:
- To get around slower drivers
- To reach their destination faster
- To avoid holding up traffic
- That is their normal way of driving
- They believe the speed limit is set too low
Top 5 reasons to slow down
Drivers were asked top reasons to slow down and obey speed limits. Among New Yorkers' top reasons:
- To avoid getting a ticket
- To avoid being involved in an accident
- Bad weather
- Poor road conditions
- There is too much traffic
June accident highlights impact of speeding in Rochester
In Rochester, the city continues to make changes to improve pedestrian safety, yet drivers' risky behavior still impacts the community.
In June 2026, Rochestarian Henry "Hank" Brown, 70, was struck by an oncoming car while crossing South Union Street near Buena Place on the way home from work. The driver then fled the scene.
Brown was well known on Rochester's East End as a doorman at Salinger's Pub on East Avenue, where he worked for over two decades.
With the blessing of Brown's family, Reconnect Rochester recently installed a pedestrian fatality memorial near the scene of the crash for Brown.
"It's critically important for drivers to slow and scan the road, and pay attention for pedestrians and bicyclists." said Cody Donahue, co-executive director of Reconnect Rochester, a nonprofit organization that advocates for improvements in local transportation systems.
Reconnect Rochester shares Monroe County crash data
Reconnect Rochester's website hosts a Monroe County Crash Map that features information from NYS CLEAR Crash Data to raise awareness and advocate for safer roads.
Between 2015-2024, 5,113 crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians occurred in Monroe County, with 2,518 resulting in injury or death, according to NYS CLEAR Crash Data. shared by the state Department of Transportation.
"On average, 12 people die on our local streets every year as a result of these crashes," Reconnect Rochester said in a statement on its website.
At the memorial installation for Brown, Donahue highlighted Reconnect Rochester's Complete Streets Smart Installation near Savannah Street to encourage safe driving practices among drivers. Such installations often involve extensions of curbs to shorten the distance a pedestrian must travel on a crosswalk.
As part of the organization's program, a new Complete Streets Makeover installation will be placed near Genesee Park Boulevard and Pioneer Street.
Visit reconnectrochester.org to learn how to nominate an intersection for safer pedestrian infrastructure.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: How do drivers justify speeding? New study gives clues | Exclusive
