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What is considered reckless driving speed?
Sometimes I don’t realize that I’m driving over the speed limit and I’m worried I’ll be pulled over
for reckless driving. What speed is considered reckless driving?
Tiffany Leung · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
What is considered reckless driving speed will depend on your state. However, to be safe, assume that driving 20 mph or more over the posted speed limit will be considered driving recklessly.
There are three types of speed limits, and each state will follow one of the following principles:
- Absolute: Most states have set absolute limits, meaning that it is illegal to exceed this limit, regardless of how safe you are driving.
- Prima facie: States that adopt this principle have more leniency toward driving over the speed limit. While it is not encouraged, exceeding the speed limit would not be considered reckless driving if you’re driving safely.
- Mixed: Some states will have mixed principles depending on the road you are driving on. For example, the freeway will have absolute speed limits and prima facie municipal limits.
We recommend becoming familiar with the speeding laws in your state so you don’t get pulled over. Getting charged with reckless driving can lead to serious penalties, including hefty fines, license suspension, and possibly imprisonment. It can also affect your employment opportunities, depending on the job.
Getting charged with reckless driving—or speeding or any other traffic offense—will also cause your insurance premiums to increase significantly. Fortunately,
Jerry
can help you find cheap car insurance
even with a less-than-perfect driving record.Signing up takes less than a minute and provides access to competitive quotes from top insurers. Once you pick a policy that suits your needs, Jerry will handle the paperwork and help you cancel your old policy. The average user saves $887 a year!
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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