A new study suggests speeding has become routine for many of the state’s drivers. Triple-A-Iowa spokeswoman Brynna Knapp (BRIN-ah NAP) says the research found going well above the posted limit is increasingly viewed as normal behavior.
Why are people putting the pedal to the metal? Knapp says one of the biggest factors is simply not wanting to get stuck behind someone moving slower.
Thirty-one percent of respondents cited getting around slower drivers, while 25 percent said they speed to reach their destination more quickly. The study also asked drivers what would make them slow down, and their responses included: bad weather, avoiding a crash, and avoiding a ticket. Still, Knapp says the research found many motorists believe there’s a cushion before police will stop them.
While the study found more than 90-percent of drivers believe speed bumps are effective, fewer than half support installing them in their own neighborhoods. Drivers also favor warning systems that alert them when they’re speeding, but not technology that actively limits a vehicle’s speed.
