2011 National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors

Schroeder, Paul; Kostyniuk, Lidia; Mack, Mary · 2013 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Behavioral Safety Research

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Summary

The 2011 National Survey of Speeding Attitudes and Behaviors (NSSAB), conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), addresses the persistent safety challenge of speeding, which contributed to nearly one-third of fatal crashes between 2002 and 2011. This report presents findings from the third iteration of the NSSAB series, aiming to provide national estimates of driver behavior, attitudes, and crash experiences to inform the development of effective countermeasures. The study was motivated by the need to understand how attitudes correlate with traffic outcomes and to identify trends over a 14-year period, particularly regarding the integration of cell phone technology into driving habits. The study employed a dual-frame telephone survey design to ensure national representativeness, accounting for the shift from landline to cell phone usage. Data were collected via interviews with 6,144 U.S. drivers aged 16 and older between March and September 2011, including an oversample of young drivers (16–34 years). A key methodological innovation was the use of cluster analysis on responses to six speeding behavior questions to categorize drivers into three distinct typologies: nonspeeders (30%), sometime speeders (40%), and speeders (30%). This typology served as a primary variable for analyzing norms, attitudes, crash history, and responses to enforcement measures. Results indicate that while 91% of drivers agree that speed limits should be obeyed because they are the law, actual behavior varies significantly by driver type. Speeders were predominantly younger, more likely to be male, and had higher household incomes. They were also twice as likely as other groups to believe that speeding is not dangerous for skilled drivers. Regarding countermeasures, electronic warning signs and public awareness campaigns received the highest approval (89% and 88%, respectively), while higher fines were the least popular. Notably, speeders were significantly less likely than nonspeeders to support increased ticketing or higher fines. The survey also highlighted risky behaviors: 22% of drivers talked on cell phones during half or more of their trips, with texting being more prevalent among younger drivers. Speeders were more likely to use cell phones while driving than nonspeeders. Crash data showed that 11% of drivers aged 16–20 experienced a speeding-related crash in the past five years, compared to only 1% of those aged 55 and older. The significance of these findings lies in the validation of driver typology as a powerful predictor of attitudes and behavior, suggesting that interventions must be tailored to specific driver groups. Trend analysis revealed that while the enjoyment of driving fast and the belief that speed increases alertness have decreased since 1997, the prevalence of speeding-related crashes and enforcement encounters has remained relatively stable. The data underscore the need for targeted strategies, particularly for young drivers and those classified as speeders, who exhibit distinct normative attitudes and higher engagement in risky behaviors like cell phone use.

Key finding

Cluster analysis identified three distinct driver groups comprising 30% nonspeeders, 40% sometime speeders, and 30% speeders, with speeders being younger, more affluent, and significantly more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors and hold permissive attitudes toward speeding.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 6144

Provenance

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

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• speed choice
• incidence prevalence
• sex gender
• cultural cross national
• seat belt use

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
• Methodological Resource: dataset resource