It’s one after another. A Honda, a Toyota, a Jeep; so many cars flying past me. I’m already going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, yet I get passed by every other car coming up from behind me. When a car finally gets a chance to pass me, they fly by like they’re trying to indirectly tell me to go faster.

Driving over the speed limit is one of the most commonly broken driving laws. All it takes is one press of the accelerator to go over the speed limit. Most cars can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in around six to eight seconds, so it’s understandable why it’s so common. 

But just because speeding is common and so normalized, that doesn’t mean you should do it.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s annual report, all but one category for 2024-25 are not on track to reach the desired benchmark. For the category drivers aged 20 or younger in fatal crashes, the benchmark was 138.3 people, and the actual was 165 people dying per year. For the category speeding-related fatalities, the benchmark was 418.4, and the actual was 428.2 people dying per year. And for an overall perspective, the benchmark for total traffic fatalities was 1,121.9. But the actual amount was 1,229.4 fatalities per year. 

Speeding is not the only category that should be paid attention to, but out of all of the categories, it should be highlighted. Speeding can be directly tied to multiple categories in the report, like pedestrian fatalities, total fatalities, young driver crashes, and serious injury in traffic crashes. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s as simple as it gets; speeding increases the risk of crashes and the severity of injury during a crash. The higher the impact speed, the greater the fatality and injury risk to pedestrians and other non-motorists. 

Ultimately, speeding can only make things worse for you as the driver. Car crashes are always an unfortunate event, but when speeding is involved, it becomes even more unfortunate. 

Speeding is a problem for all ages, but teenagers tend to have a “need for speed.” According to Disparti Law Group of accident and injury lawyers, historically, between 2000 and 2011, teens were involved in nearly 19,447 speeding-related crashes. This isn’t just a problem historically; in 2022, speeding was a factor in 30% of fatal crashes involving passenger vehicle drivers aged 15-18. 

Now this “need for speed” is explainable. Intentional speeding comes in many forms.

Lots of teenagers have practices, work, school, and just places to be. And being late can come with consequences, so speeding is almost always the solution when running late. Or if a teenager is coming home from somewhere such as work, it’s common to have the wanting to “just get home,” which can lead to speeding as well. 

Some teens may simply abide by the common saying, “nine you’re fine, ten you’re mine,” and think that a small amount of speeding is not a big deal, especially if their friends do it. However, even a small increase can translate to a 78% increase in collision energy, according to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

A teenager’s brain  is still developing, which can be a factor as well. An adolescent’s ability to have self-control is still developing, and they frequently search for that “rush of adrenaline.” This is often seen in males more than in females. In 2022, only 19% of female drivers, 15-20, were speeding at the time of fatal crashes. Whereas, 35% of male drivers were speeding at the time of fatal crashes. 

There are many excuses for why speeding happens, but nothing can make up for the damage done in a car crash, whether it’s to a car or a precious life. 

If you’re lucky enough, you might never get in a car crash, but there’s still the possibility of getting a speeding ticket. 

According to Maksimovich & Associates P.C. Attorneys at Law, 1 to 20 mph over the limit is a 120 dollar fine. 21 to 25 mph over the limit is a 140 dollar fine. 26 to 34 mph over the limit is a class B misdemeanor and can lead to up to six months in jail, and a 1,500 dollar fine. 35 mph or more over the speed limit is a class misdemeanor A and can lead to up to one year in jail, and a 2,500 dollar fine. 

And as a teen, there can be additional penalties, such as license suspension and points on their driving record. 

You’re not Lightning McQueen or an F1 driver, and by speeding, you harm yourself, all of those around you, and your car. Slow down.