Why do people drive over the speed limit?

Different potential options - not just 1...
1) Because they can.
2) Because they don't care what happens if/when they crash.
3) Because they don't think they will crash or somehow hurt someone else.
4) Because the vehicle doesn't control the speed, the driver does.
5) Because it is fun.
6) To get away from something, quickly.
7) Because they are under the influence of alcohol/drugs/whatever and have severely impaired judgement.
8) Because they are self-entitled and don't believe rules/laws apply to them.
9) Because the vehicle is somehow broken and is somehow going faster than it should.
A few more - these were low hanging fruit...

Some people are more comfortable driving at speed over the speed limit.
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My antique sports car loves being driven at higher speeds because the previous owner and myself have made a few performance mods.
. 
 I can drive this car all day at speeds in excess of 90 MPH without breaking a sweat.

Because they can. Next question?

To get around slow drivers like you!

Some people mistake the Speed Limit for guidance on the flow of traffic when in fact the Speed Limit is a LAW! 

No idea, it doesn't really save much time unless you are on a long road trip.

Wrong kind of question. Why to people that drive fast, "walk the slowest" or leave late to go to work?

. As for driving, the reason we have SPEED LIMITS is so we can slide across Texas on icy roads.
. Speed limits is so everyone drives at a uniform speed and less accidents will result.  Speeders throw out your estimation of how much time you have to turn in front of them because you are wanting to go down a side road.  Normal traffic speed and you can figure you got 5 seconds(which is lots) When you are speeding that guess the other person made is wrong as now you are there or T boning the car. You could die.
. Also traveling at 55 is the most economical speed with lower fuel consumption.
. Cops don't really care as they have to get their quota for the day in speeding tickets. which is Beer money to the constables Xmas fund.
. The roads are designed for a certain speed.  None are race tracks.
. Peoples reaction times have not improved.
.There is no such thing as a fast lane.  The left lane is meant for passing only and it is left open for emergency vehicles with the flashing lights who are to use that lane and race to a fire or accident or police stuff.
.  These people got their initial training on a video car driving game at an arcade. They steer with their finger tips and figure they have 5 or more lives.  They are shocked in disbelief, when they wake up in the hospital.  (they don't show blood and guts in Arcade games so it is Unrealistic.)

Because the speed limits are too low. In the U.K. they were set in the 60s when cars had terrible brakes and tyres and took forever to stop, yet they still want to reduce them further, to accommodate idiots who wander into the road staring at their phones.

It feels good. They're in a hurry. They falsely perceive other traffic as obstacles and misjudge their speed. To pass traffic. To show off. Diarrhea. They're late.  I'm sure I missed a few excuses.

Tell you why I do it- I don't want to be in the pack when one idiot effs up and gets everyone around him in a crash that he escapes. I stay way back, or I pass the pack.

I have driven well above the speed limit and well below it.  I view the posted speed limit as a political decision rather than a safety decision. Often the speed is reduced for a section of highway for no apparent reason other than to provide opportunity for officers to collect revenue for the municipality.  Most speed limits are the same as they were 50 years ago when cars were not near as safe. And they seem very conservative by the standards of the time and ridiculously low by modern standards.  I do not consider driving fast to be nearly as dangerous as driving stupid, but I understand that many people consider them to be the same thing.

a lot of time people gets carried away and don't even realize it...

maybe there in a hurry ..

I generally Don't
I do Ride about 5 ever. 80 on freeway.  In my case, bike Likes it. Sweet spot is over 2 grand. More stable  at higher speeds.

Because they can and aren't worried about getting caught and penalized for it. 

Why do people sit in the fast lane under the speed limit? what does that sign keep right unless overtaking mean? When you are in the fast lane holding people up you are equally as guilty of creating a dangerous situation  alot of drivers that can't stay on the limit shouldn't be on the road their ability to control the car isn't good enough or their lack on concentration skills looking at their phone all the time.

Because they get away with it.

Those people have no respect for safety or other people because they have no respect for themselves. 

Rephrase:  No self respect!

Selfishness and ignorance in equal proportions.

Hi Randy,
Some drivers speed because they believe arriving at their destination as quickly as possible is more important than staying within the speed limit - for example, they may be worried about missing an appointment.

Sometimes, in a hurry, you want to travel as fast as you can. so you go to the limit allowed. However, sometimes you accidentally cross over the speed allowed.

 Sometimes, drivers exceed speed limits because they do not consider their existence important or because they drive carelessly [30]. Maybe this happens also because of the improvement of vehicle technology that isolates the driver from the outside acoustic environment [3].

It is partly the modern World of stress, and people who are very competitive.  When you are driving fifteen miles over the speed limit and someone flashes their lights at you from behind. C'mon.  

Motivational factors also contribute to speeding behaviours. Some drivers speed because they believe arriving at their destination as quickly as possible is more important than staying within the speed limit

After watching that FedEx truck plow into those people in Texas during the 100 car pileup, it made me realize that only recently have humans started travelling at high speeds over 100mph -- Think about that, and we are not afraid. We are afraid of heights and other things that could easily kill us, but not speed.

Australia on Motorways it was 130 Kilometres an hour

with 50 and 60 cars with Mediocre brakes today we have ABS better Tyres all Cars are Crash tested and the Idiots now have a 110 Limit driving the 800 meter drive to my local Mall 40 than 50

drive to the next town 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100 in the 60s with poor brakes it was 60 80 100

Going Metric reduced the speeds even More  when in the Fifties on Highways it was 100 MPH (160 KPH)

Yet in Germany my 1954 220 Mercedes-Benz with Drum Brakes and Cross-ply tyres  i could do 150 Mph 230 Kph

some people Like me Know how to drive and the Law slows me down because mots Idiots cannot Drive

1one accident in 1962 My Fault no other car Involved Nil on a Motorcycle since 1953

speeding ticket Nil for 25 years DUI Nil for ever

Using a Mobile Phone whilst Driving Nil Jumping a red Light never

My Friends son 25 Booked 7 times for Speeding and Not been to Jail yet his Job Motor mechanic he gets a free ride because he needs his Licence to remain employed

today at 80 sold my Mercedes-Benz  220 Sb and now drive a sedate 2.3 ltr V5 VW Bora 4 wheel disk Abs Cruse control Airbags  and still restricted to 100 kph on a 6 lane Highway

My car doesn't go that slow.