Trump’s Transportation Department Reminds Drivers that Speeding Catches Up with You
NHTSA campaign highlights speeding as a factor in nearly one-third of traffic deaths annually
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today launched its Speeding Catches Up with You campaign. This campaign educates Americans on the deadly consequences of speeding, which contributes to more than 10,000 deaths a year on our nation’s roads.
Speeding not only slows reaction times but also makes crashes more severe, leading to worse injuries and more deaths.
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison shares how speeding belongs on the track and how NHTSA is partnering with local law enforcement to target aggressive driving and excessive speed.
BEFORE: In 2024, 11,288 people were killed in speeding-related crashes, accounting for 29% of all traffic fatalities, and an estimated 316,757 people were also injured.
TODAY: New early estimates for 2025 released today by NHTSA project an 11% decline in speeding-related fatalities with an estimated 10,035 deaths. While this total represents a return to pre-pandemic numbers last seen in 2019, the crisis still remains.
“Unless you’re a racecar driver on the track, there’s no excuse for speeding. Speeding puts everyone’s lives at risk, making crashes more severe and less survivable,” said NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison. “We urge everyone to slow down before Speeding Catches Up with You.”
Administrator Morrison was joined in Lebanon for the campaign’s launch by Capt. James T. Williams, Commander of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department’s Traffic Division; Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing owner and NASCAR guest driver; and victim advocate Brittany Leedham.
NHTSA’s campaign will run July 6-31, with some states, counties and cities also conducting Speeding Slows You Down high-visibility enforcement campaigns to stop speeding drivers before they can hurt themselves or others.
NEW: Estimates for the first three months of 2026 show that the traffic fatality rate dropped to 0.99 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled. This would be the second-lowest first quarter fatality rate in our nation’s history, just slightly above the record of 0.98 from 15 years ago. NHTSA estimates that 7,770 people lost their lives in traffic crashes, down by 4.3 percent compared to the same period last year. Additionally, 30 states and Puerto Rico saw declines for the first quarter of the year, all while Americans drove 11 billion miles more than in the same time in 2025.
Additional Information from the Campaign:
Speeding also goes hand in hand with other risky driving behaviors. In 2024, speeding passenger vehicle drivers in fatal crashes were more likely to be unbuckled than non-speeding drivers (50% as compared to 21%). Speeding drivers were more likely to have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more than non-speeding drivers (37% to 17%).
Young drivers have a higher chance of being involved in speeding-related crashes. In 2024, 39% of male drivers and 20% of female drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in fatal traffic crashes were speeding, the highest among all age groups.
Visit NHTSA’s website for more information on speeding.