Motivations for Speeding, Volume I: Summary Report

Richard, Christian M.; Campbell, John L.; Lichty, Monica G.; Brown, James L.; Chrysler, Susan; Lee, John D.; Boyle, Linda; Reagle, George · 2012 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report, produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, investigates the motivations behind driver speeding to identify effective countermeasures. The research was motivated by the persistent failure of enforcement and engineering strategies to significantly reduce speed-related fatalities, particularly among risk-taking demographics. The study aimed to identify reasons for speeding, model the influence of situational, demographic, and personality factors, classify speeder subtypes, and determine targeted interventions. The methodology involved a naturalistic driving study with 164 participants in urban Seattle, Washington, and rural College Station, Texas. Drivers had GPS units installed in their vehicles for three to four weeks, recording 1-Hz vehicle position and speed data. This data was combined with road network information to identify speeding episodes, defined as driving 10 mph or more above the posted speed. To account for exposure, the researchers created a "free-flow time" metric, excluding time spent in congestion or below 5 mph of the limit. Participants also completed personal inventory questionnaires and daily driving logs. The study employed descriptive analyses to categorize speeding behaviors and inferential analyses using logistic and linear regression models to predict the likelihood and amount of speeding. Additionally, focus groups were conducted with subsets of participants to explore attitudes toward countermeasures. Descriptive analyses revealed four distinct speeding subtypes: incidental (unintentional), situational (high speeding on few trips), casual (small amounts on many trips), and habitual (regular, high-volume speeding). Scatter plots indicated that these patterns varied by location and speed band; for instance, habitual speeding was more prevalent on higher-speed roads, while incidental speeding was common on lower-speed urban roads. Regression results identified significant predictors for speeding. Demographically, younger males were consistently more likely to speed than older females across both locations. Situational factors, including time of day and day of week, also significantly influenced speeding likelihood. Personality factors, particularly attitudes toward reckless driving, emerged as key predictors in models incorporating personal inventory data. The study concludes that speeding is not a monolithic behavior but comprises distinct subtypes influenced by a complex interaction of demographics, situational context, and personality. The findings suggest that effective countermeasures must be tailored to specific driver groups and contexts rather than applying uniform enforcement. By identifying who speeds, why they speed, and how their behaviors correlate with other unsafe driving acts, the research provides a foundation for developing targeted strategies to reduce speeding and improve traffic safety.

Key finding

Younger males were significantly more likely to engage in speeding than older females, and attitudes toward reckless driving were a key personality predictor of the amount of speeding.

Methodology

naturalistic

Sample size: 164

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• speed choice
• sex gender
• urban rural setting
• cultural cross national
• sensation seeking
• rail grade crossings

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, behavioral performance data
• Theoretical Contribution: theory or model