Who do you think gets the most speeding tickets in a given year, if you’re trying to look at a specific group? Most people would probably say either “teen drivers” or “young men.” Both have a stereotypical reputation for driving quickly and breaking the rules — either on purpose or through a lack of experience.
However, this helps show why you need to be very careful with stereotypes. The reality is that young men are not the demographic with the most speeding tickets in your typical year.
That honor goes to adult drivers between 30 years old and 49 years old. If you want to break it down even further, those who earn more than $75,000 per year and who also fall into that age group are the most likely to get a ticket. The median income in the United States is about $52,000, so these are people who make considerably more than the average.
Why do they get more tickets? For one thing, many of them are busy professionals and parents of young children. They have busy schedules and a lot of deadlines. They often risk it and speed just because they can never seem to get everything done.
That relatively high income may play a role as well. A college student with $500 in a bank account just can’t afford a speeding ticket. A young professional with thousands in savings and a steady income can weather than financial hit much more easily, and they know it. The risk isn’t as great.
If you do get a speeding ticket, regardless of your age, make sure you understand all of the legal options that you have.
