Speeding and accidents drive up insurance rates, and can lead to license suspensions and possible jail time. So it pays to drive safely—as well as how each state treats traffic offenses.
A new ranking by WalletHub, in addition to revealing which states have the harshest penalties, also lists the states that are the most lenient toward bad driving.
WalletHub researched driving laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to determine which states were more lenient on issuing speeding and reckless driving tickets.
According to an Allstate survey, 89 percent of respondents said that they have driven faster than the posted speed limit. Forty percent admit that they have gone more than 20 miles per hour over the limit, which is considered reckless driving in most states.
The survey found that seven in 10 drivers surveyed indicated that they have been distracted while driving and have avoided accidents by swerving or putting on their brakes.
These are the states, in ascending order, were found by Wallet Hub to be the most lenient on driving infractions:
13. Wisconsin
According to the state’s DMV, in Wisconsin your license will be suspended if you accumulate 12 points or more within 12 months. Driving too slow in the Badger State will get you two points, while failing to use your turn signal will get you three points. Reckless driving in the state will result in a six-point penalty.
12. Michigan
The state enforcement on speeding includes a basic speeding law, which requires drivers to obey the speed limit, but adjust speed based on weather and road conditions. Michigan does have one of the lowest additional costs of insurance after one speeding ticket.
5. (Tie) New Hampshire
After one speeding ticket, drivers will face the lowest additional costs on their insurance rates. A first offense conviction for reckless driving in the state is a minimum $500 in fines and a 60-day license suspension.
5. (Tie) Massachusetts
The state has one of the lowest maximum fines for a second reckless driving conviction, which can range from $20 to $200, with an additional $250 assessment fee. A speeding ticket carries a $100 fine for 10 miles over the posted speed limit.
4. (Tie) South Carolina
South Carolina carries one of the lowest maximum fines, $25 to $200, if convicted of reckless driving.
4. (Tie) Ohio
For the first conviction for reckless driving, Ohio has one of the lowest maximum fines, not exceeding $250 and/or up to 30 days in jail. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 mile per hour over the speed limit can result in a two-point violation.
4. (Tie) Montana
Montana came in at No. 45 for speeding enforcement rank in terms of penalty severity. For reckless driving, the state was ranked at No. 33. Overall, Montana ranked at No. 43 for driving penalty enforcements.
4. (Tie) Kentucky
The state ranked at No. 48 for the lowest maximum fine for the first reckless driving conviction, and ranked at No. 51 for the lowest maximum fine for the second reckless driving conviction.
3. (Tie) New Jersey
The Garden State ranked at No. 50 for the lowest additional cost of insurance after one speeding ticket. Reckless driving enforcement was ranked at No. 34, while speeding enforcement was ranked at No. 45. Speeding over 10 mph may result in a $95 ticket and a 2-point violation.
3. (Tie) Nebraska
Speeding enforcement ranked at No. 45. The Nebraska speeding point system starts with 1-5 MPH over posted speed limit gets one point, 6-10 mph over posted speed limit is a 2-point violation, and 11-35 mph over the posted speed limit is a 3-point violation. Reckless driving ranked at No. 34.
2. (Tie) Mississippi
Down south, the state has the nation's fourth-lowest lowest maximum fine for the first reckless driving conviction. According to drivinglaws.org, the first reckless driving offense is $5 to $100 in fines. The second offense is 10 days in jail and/or a maximum $500 in fines. A one-year license suspension happens on the third reckless driving conviction.
2. (Tie) Oklahoma
Ranked at fourth-lowest for speeding enforcement penalties, the state ranked at No. 34 for reckless penalty enforcement. For the first reckless offense, drivers may face five to 90 days in jail and/or $100 to $500 in fines. Speeding one to 10 miles over the speed limit will cost you $97.
1. Texas
Texas is the most lenient state in terms of speeding enforcement. In Texas, the first and second reckless driving offense will only cost you $200. Speeding one to 10 miles over the posted speed limit will result in a $97 dollar citation. There's a $122 citation for speeding 11-15 miles over the posted speed limit.
The full report can be viewed here.