We're not saying you should speed. But we do know a few tricks to keep you under the radar, so to speak.
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Don’t speed—or at least keep it to a minimum
You can keep yourself and your loved ones safe—not to mention the people you’re sharing the road with—by simply observing the speed limit. According to a 2021 RAND survey, 8.6 million Americans are ticketed for speeding each year. That said, you can probably drive a few miles per hour above the speed limit without attracting the attention of police officers, according to Palardy.
If the only thing you’re doing wrong is driving a few miles per hour over the speed limit, you’ll probably be fine, according to Hilliard. However, if you do get pulled over, all it takes is going one mph faster than the posted speed limit to get a ticket, says Hamburger.
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Slow down near schools
When you’re driving in a school zone, which you know by their lights and signs, always stick to the exact speed limit, say our veteran cops. Not only is it a matter of basic decency and common sense, it’s a safe bet that police officers are keeping a sharp eye on the safety of those roads. The same is true for residential neighborhoods, particularly during the school day.
Another way to avoid getting pulled over? Keep an eye out for speed cameras. According to the Federal Highway Administration, when New York City implemented these cameras, they reduced speeding in school zones up to 63% during school hours. If you’re not sure what they look like, you can find apps that will warn you of the cameras’ presence.
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Don’t speed in a fancy car
It’s not that police officers have anything against luxury cars—it’s just that they’re curious like everyone else. What’s the car like inside? Who’s driving it?
“If you’re driving a Bugatti even slightly over the speed limit, you might get pulled over just because, in addition to getting to write out a speeding ticket, the police officer now has the opportunity to check out your awesome car,” Hamburger jokes. But he’s not really joking. This is what happens in real life. If you drive a cool luxury car, be mindful of that.
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Don’t try it in a beater, either
Retired officer Hilliard refers to a rundown car as a “POS,” which is exactly what you think it is. And if your car is a beater, it’s just as likely to attract attention as a rare luxury vehicle—so keep up that car maintenance! This is especially true if your vehicle emits excessive smoke, makes too much noise or is missing a taillight or other needed part. In fact, if your lights aren’t working properly, you can expect another violation because your car is legally required to have its headlights and taillights intact.
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Don’t speed with a baby face
Young drivers are catnip to cops, Hamburger says. And a study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that drivers aged 18 to 24 were most likely to have police-initiated contact (5% of that contact is related to traffic accidents). Being new to the road and lacking in experience, young drivers provide cops with the opportunity for a teaching moment. And you can be sure they’ll be only too happy to point out what young people are doing wrong. In other words, young drivers, you’re being watched!
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Wear that seatbelt
“Cops can tell if you’re not wearing your seat belt,” Hamburger says. “If they don’t see the strap above your left shoulder, you’re just asking to be pulled over. Even if you’re not speeding.” But if you are speeding, you’re going to wind up with two tickets: one for speeding, and one for failing to wear a seat belt.
A chilling statistic? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that on average, a passenger vehicle occupant without a seat belt dies in a traffic crash every 50 minutes! So be sure to always wear a seatbelt—always.
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Don’t drive distracted
Driving with your attention on something other than the road (like your smartphone) is when you’re likely to drive too slowly, says Hamburger. And if you’re driving significantly below the speed limit, you’re going to attract attention. Other signs police look for in distracted drivers include weaving in and out of your lane, looking down, stopping for too long at stop signs or red lights and talking animatedly (even without anyone else in the car).
We know what you’re thinking about that phone: “Seriously? Even if you’re using your phone hands-free?” But the harsh reality is that “distracted driving isn’t only about what’s in your hand. Eighty percent of the distraction is the conversation,” says Hamburger. “The phone in the hand accounts for the last 20%.”
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Renew your registration
Don’t speed. Don’t drive slowly. Don’t use your hands-free device. In fact, don’t even park—because if you’re driving around with an expired registration, you’re just asking for a ticket. Want to know how to avoid getting pulled over altogether? Renew your registration!
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Get a boring-colored car
Hamburger says that cars in more conservative colors like black, navy and dark gray tend to get fewer tickets. It’s not that cops have anything against red, green and yellow cars—these colors are just easier to see. Interestingly, American Auto Insurance states that white is actually the car color that gets pulled over the most. But it’s not for the reason you think. White cars are just more popular, making up about 35% of cars on the road.
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Don’t speed the last week of the month
A hot tip on how to avoid getting pulled over? Don’t speed, but especially don’t do it the fourth week of the month, says Hamburger. Many jurisdictions have monthly quotas, he explains, and in that last week of the month, officers will suddenly realize they need to “catch up” on ticketing. While you might get away with a few miles over in the first three weeks, you could get nailed that last week.
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Don’t be a leader
Consider the behavior of the other cars and drivers around you. If you’re the one passing every other car on the highway, who do you think is going to get pulled over? However, if other drivers are flying by, you could probably get away with being a few miles over the posted limit. (Hamburger says this is something he’s heard from police officers.)
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Stay informed
Another surefire way to avoid getting pulled over? Check for speed traps! Hamburger suggests using Waze, a smartphone app that gives you directions, tells you the best time to leave for your destination and crowdsources the locations of speed traps. Drivers using Waze can (and do) input the locations of police cars, radar guns and other forms of speed traps, and the app will warn you if it’s on the route you’re driving.
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Heed the blinking lights of other cars
That guy driving toward you with his lights flashing? He may not be complaining about your high beams—he could be warning you of a police car up ahead, Hamburger points out. (Of course, it could also be that your headlights need adjustment.)
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Come to a complete stop at stop signs
This seems like an obvious rule of the road, but people roll stop signs all the time, says Hamburger. Not only is this unsafe for other drivers and pedestrians, but it’s also a good way to catch the attention of a police officer, particularly in residential areas.
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Pulled over? You could still avoid a ticket
When you hear those “whoop whoop” noises and see those flashing lights, keep your cool, slow down and think polite thoughts, because there’s a right way and a wrong way to talk to a policeman, says Hamburger. The right way is to be “unfailingly polite.” The wrong way is any other way.
“Don’t get out of your car,” Hamburger advises, no matter how long it takes the officer to make his way to your car. Cops have to be concerned for their own safety. “Even with a weapon, every traffic stop a police officer makes could be the last,” Hamburger explains, and this is true even in the most bucolic suburb.
“Follow whatever instructions the police officer gives you, but don’t offer a confession,” he stresses. (Anything you say can be used against you in traffic court.) Instead, as politely as possible, talk about how you’re a safe driver and that you know being safe is critically important. “You have 30 seconds to convey that you’re a safe-driving, law-abiding citizen,” so use it wisely.
If you’ve never gotten a speeding ticket before, let the officer know that. If you swerved or sped up in an attempt to avoid a pothole, let the officer know that too, because that may be enough for the officer to let you go with a warning and avoid getting a ticket.
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Consider an appeal
Even if you get ticketed, you can still appeal by following the directions on the ticket. For your trial, dress nicely and come prepared. That includes having a defense prepared (e.g., “I wasn’t actually doing 50 in a 20 mph zone”). For this purpose, it’s best to write down all relevant facts while they’re still fresh in your mind, including:
- The posted speed limit
- The speed at which you were driving
- The weather and traffic conditions
- The technology, or lack thereof, used in detecting your speed. (You may be able to challenge your ticket on this point, particularly if the officer didn’t use tech.)
In addition to fines, too many traffic tickets can lead to more expensive auto insurance, marks on your driving record, having your license suspended or revoked—and in severe cases—criminal charges and/or jail time.
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Sources:
- Federal Highway Administration: “Speed Safety Cameras”
- RAND: “Stop, Start, or Continue? A National Survey of the Police About Traffic Stops”
- KTLA: “Drivers of these cars get the most speeding tickets”
- Bureau of Justice Statistics: “Contacts Between Police and the Public, 2020”
- Traffic Safety Marketing: “Seat Belt Safety”
- American Auto Insurance: “Which Color Car Gets Pulled Over Most Often?”
- Bradley Hamburger, insurance advisor and senior vice president at FOA & Son International Insurance Brokers
- Michael Palardy, retired police captain from Millburn, New Jersey
- Harold Hilliard, retired police officer from Plano, Texas
