Why Speeding Is Even Riskier in Florida
According to the National Motorists Association, Florida is the state “most likely to hand out a traffic ticket” in the U.S. So if you live in the Sunshine State and you’ve got a lead foot, just know that you run a high risk of getting pulled over. How much, exactly? Well, if you add up all the citations that were written for “speeding in a posted zone” violations in 2012, the number comes out to 889,811. This data, collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, shows that 5,975 traffic tickets were given out for “driving too fast for conditions” alone.
Speeding isn’t just something you get an annoying traffic ticket for, either. The whole reason speeding is an offense is because it puts other drivers, and pedestrians, in danger. And speeding tickets are meant to deter you from speeding again. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2008, there were 553 speeding-related fatalities in the state of Florida. So how can we get this number down to zero? The obvious answer is that drivers need to slow down and obey the speed limit when they’re on the road, no matter where they are.
In case you need a refresher on Florida speed limits, they are as follows (unless a posted sign states otherwise):
- School zones: 20 MPH
- Municipal speed areas: 30 MPH
- Business/residential areas: 30 MPH
- Rural interstates: 70 MPH
- Limited access highways: 70 MPH
And in general, the speed limit is 55 MPH for all other roads and highways. But again, always be on the lookout for posted signs, because these will indicate what is allowed in any specific area. It can be challenging to know what to do when you’re in a situation where every car around you is speeding. If you go the speed limit, and it’s significantly slower than the speed of others around you, you can actually cause more harm than good. But going too fast can get you in trouble too. Here are some quick tips to help you avoid getting a speeding ticket.
Don’t Make Yourself Stick Out
If you can, try to blend in with the cars around you. The vehicles at the front of the group and at the back are the ones that will get the most attention, so stay in the middle if you can. Don’t do anything that will make you stand out, like weaving in and out of lanes or tailgating.
Keep Out of the Fast Lane
You shouldn’t be driving for long stretches in the far left lane (or fast lane) of the freeway anyway—it’s intended for passing other vehicles. But avoiding this lane becomes even more important when everyone is speeding. Drivers who remain in the fast lane are common targets for speeding tickets.
Utilize Cruise Control
A good way to ensure you’re not constantly speeding up and slowing down (or drawing attention to yourself) is to set your cruise control so you stay at a steady pace. If you do this while following the other tips, you’ll be in good shape.
But if you do find yourself with a ticket, remember that you can always take Florida traffic school to brush up on safe-driving skills, or possibly even dismiss ticket points. Check out our homepage at http://www.trafficschoolonlineflorida.com/ to find out more about your options.
