dlq04

Source: Here are the Best and Worst States for Speeding Infractions, Ranked - The Drive

"The laws that govern and punish such behavior can vary wildly from state to state but luckily for us, the folks at WalletHub have compiled traffic law data on all 50 states and the District of Columbia, ranking them from the most lenient to the most strict when it comes to speeding and reckless driving.

According to the publication, speeding was a contributing factor in 27 percent of all car-related deaths from 2016. What's more, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that speed-related collisions rack up a total "cost to society" bill of $40.4 billion a year.

Researchers compiled their list by assigning each state a score based on stats such as the speed at which "speeding" becomes "reckless driving," the average insurance rate hike after one speeding ticket, maximum fines and jail times for reckless driving, minimum fines and jail times for reckless driving, and the presence of automatic speed cameras, among others.

While the full, detailed results can be found at WalletHub, here are least and most punitive states for reckless drivers:

Strictest

1. Delaware
2. Colorado
3. Arizona
4. New Mexico
5. California
6. Oregon
7. North Carolina
8. Illinois
9. Virginia
10. Alabama
11. Washington

Most Lenient

1. Texas
2. Mississippi
3. Oklahoma
4. New Jersey
5. Nebraska
6. South Carolina
7. Ohio
8. Montana
9. Kentucky
10. Wisconsin
11. Michigan
12. New Hampshire
13. Massachusetts"

dlq04

I don't travel that much any more and when I do, I seldom go more than 10 mph over the limits. Heck, I don't even carry my radar detector any more.

What do you think of the list? Agree? Disagree?

From my experience I would never think of putting Ohio on the lenient list.

Lainey

I would have expected Virginia to be higher on the "strictest" list. Would not have expected MA to be so lenient. The towns are the worse. Rick got a ticket for 8 over in Plymouth, MA. Radar detector didn't work, or we didn't have it set properly. We still think that's why he got the ticket, the officer wasn't happy to see that. We sold it after that. We/he generally keep it around 10 over , but those little "bursts of energy" when passing a slow poke can get you in trouble.

Heyitsgary

I think the terms for strictest and lenient would lead people to believe it's different than what it is.

Researchers compiled their list by assigning each state a score based on stats such as the speed at which "speeding" becomes "reckless driving," the average insurance rate hike after one speeding ticket, maximum fines and jail times for reckless driving, minimum fines and jail times for reckless driving, and the presence of automatic speed cameras, among others.

It sounds more like a score of impact of a ticket, not likelihood (which is how I would read the terms).

Morris

I got stopped in Virginia about 15 years ago for going 70 or 75 in a 45, but it was one in the morning and the cop let me go with a warning.

cosmomiller

Kyras

I've received speeding tickets in California and Mississippi Louisiana. I was pulled over and told to slow down in Texas and Utah. I got a ticket in Colorado but it was for (intentionally) blowing through a stop sign. This list tells more about serious speeding consequences than about the chances of getting a speeding ticket.

jukngene

Interesting. Delaware is finally No. 1 in something!
Not sure that I agree, though. I'll have to read the article.

TheBasedDoge

Virginia has to be the worst. They pull you over for even a few mph over, and over 80 mph and you get jail

jukngene

Patty, I think your ticket was in Louisiana, not Mississippi. That's based on the picture you posted on one of your trips to the east coast.