Profile of the speeding driver: Examination of driver attitudes and behaviour around posted speed limits on Australian roads

Background: Vehicle speed is a key contributor to the incidence and severity of crashes. This research aimed to document the profile of drivers who self-report that they exceed the speed limit._x000D_
_x000D_Method: Data were collected as part of a representative road safety survey of 5,179 drivers (45% male) in Australia. Drivers provided information regarding their usual speed choices across different speed zones as well as their recent history of traffic fines and crash involvement, attitudes towards local speed limits and Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA)._x000D_
_x000D_Results: Overall, 23% of the drivers reported exceeding the posted speed limit in a 40 km/h zone, while almost half of those surveyed (47%) exceeded posted speed limits of 100 km/h. Drivers aged 22-39 years reported the highest level of non-compliance with approximately up to 40% driving at least 10% faster than the posted limit. There were relatively few differences in speed compliance between male and female drivers, although older males reported greater non-compliance than similarly aged females. Attitudes toward ISA technology differed by age and gender._x000D_
_x000D_Discussion: The findings highlight the age and gender based differences in attitudes toward regulated driving speed and adopted speed behaviours. Measures to improve speed compliance are discussed._x000D_
_x000D_Implications: The findings can be used to improve the targeting of the road safety messages concerning speeding behaviour._x000D_