New Research Shows America’s Fastest Driving Cities

A new report from QuoteWizard, an online insurance comparison marketplace, has the answers — and has released a study ranking the fastest drivers in the nation by city, based on speeding tickets.

The study, ranking the 25 speediest driving cities in America, along with more detailed looks at the fastest specific markets is available here: https://quotewizard.com/news/posts/fastest-driving-cities-2018. The study found that Wichita, Omaha, Boise, Portland, OR and Richmond are America’s fastest driving cities, as indicated by the highest rates of speeding tickets.

“Every city has their share of speeders,” says Adam Johnson, QuoteWizard content manager. “But some cities certainly have more lead-footed drivers than others. Whether it’s faster drivers, attentive police, or both, this study identifies the cities with the highest rate of speeding tickets.”

The implications are dire: Speeding is one of the main factors behind deadly car crashes. In 2016, speeding killed 10,111 people, accounting for 27 percent of all traffic fatalities that year. Not only does speeding endanger the life of the person driving, but also people sharing the road. Pair a lead-footed driver with bad weather or an unlit stretch of road and the result could be a serious accident.

So, let’s take a look at the list — from faster to slower, these are the top 25 fastest driving cities in the US:

1. Wichita, KS
2. Omaha, NE
3. Boise, ID
4. Portland, OR
5. Richmond, VA
6. Columbia, SC
7. Salt Lake City, UT
8. Minneapolis, MN
9. Charleston, SC
10. Virginia Beach, VA
11. Greenville, SC
12. Charlotte, NC
13. Durham, NC
14. Columbus, OH
15. Kansas City, MO
16. Bay Area, CA
17. Riverside, CA
18. Seattle, WA
19. Greensboro, NC
20. Fresno, CA
21. Cleveland, OH
22. Sacramento, CA
23. Bakersfield, CA
24. Austin, TX
25. Denver, CO

A little more detail is helpful: Wichita is the largest city in Kansas, and it’s also home to the fastest drivers in the country. Known as the City of Air, Wichita drivers may be confusing their jeeps with speeding jets.

According to the Wichita Police Department, the city saw 37,531 moving citations in 2017. That number decreased from the previous year. In Wichita, it will cost you $76.50 for going one mph over the speed limit, and the fine just increases from there. Plus, the police department is cracking down on speeders even more, with a new traffic bureau and a returning motorcycle patrol.
Omaha

As if earning the title of second-fastest driving city wasn’t enough, Omaha drivers can now drive faster on Interstates 80, 680, and 480. If you decide to ignore the speed limit in this city, your fine could cost you anywhere from $10 to $300. Although hasty driving may seem like a good idea at the time, it’s probably not worth the $300 price tag – or endangering the lives of yourself and other drivers.

What’s got Omaha drivers going so fast? Are they trying to rush home before getting cited for a worse driving violation? After all, Omaha earned the top spot as the worst drivers in our 2018 study. It’s no surprise that the nation’s worst drivers are a bit leadfooted.
Boise

Third place goes to Boise. Why do Boise residents rush? Maybe drivers are in a hurry to reach the stunning mountains, hiking trails, and rivers that surround the city.

In 2017, the Boise Police Department issued 9,879 hazardous moving violations. A speeding ticket will cost you more than just the original fine. In Idaho, it will cost you points on your driver’s license, which can lead to a suspended license and a spike in your car insurance rates. Boise has a population of just over 700,000, and major highways like the I-84 running through the city.
Portland

The Rose City is Oregon’s largest city. It’s known for bikes, eco-friendliness, and the popular slogan, “Keep Portland Weird.” When Portland residents aren’t commuting via the bike lane, our data shows that they like to speed through town. And Oregon is one of the only states where drivers don’t pump their own gas. Do those Oregon gas attendants put something special in the tank that makes Portland cars extra fast? Or are residents just trying to beat the MAX home? We don’t know, but one things for sure: Portlanders like speeding.

In 2016, the Portland Police Bureau’s traffic division issued 17,206 citations. According to the Portland Bureau of Transportation, unsafe speeds are a factor in about half of deadly crashes in Portland. The city is focusing on implementing the Vision Zero Action Plan, which takes action on speeding with street design and safety cameras.
Richmond