how far over the speed limit can you go
Legally, you are not allowed to go even 1 mph over the posted speed limit in most places; the limit is the maximum. In practice, many drivers report an informal “buffer” of about 5–10 mph over , but that varies by country, state, and even by officer or camera policy.
What the law actually says
- In the U.S., exceeding the posted limit by any amount is technically a violation, though some states have rules about when you can actually be convicted (for example, Pennsylvania has specific “over 5” or “over 10” thresholds for certain limits).
- In the UK, the law also treats any speed above the limit as a potential offense , even though enforcement agencies often apply an internal tolerance (commonly around 10% plus 2 mph).
Typical “real‑world” buffers people mention
- Many forum drivers in the U.S. say officers often don’t ticket until about 10–14 mph over , especially on highways and when traffic is flowing similarly.
- Some localities describe an unwritten “10% rule” (e.g., 50 in a 45 zone, 70 in a 60 zone), but this is not a legal right —just a common enforcement pattern.
Speed‑camera and automated systems
- In several areas, speed cameras are set to trigger only when you exceed the limit by a certain margin (often around 10–11 mph over), which suggests that staying just under that threshold may reduce the chance of a ticket.
- Even so, cameras can still catch you at lower overages , and school‑zone or construction‑zone cameras often have tighter tolerances.
Practical advice
- To stay legally safe , treat the posted limit as the hard ceiling and avoid “how far over” games.
- If you want to reduce risk without driving too slowly, many drivers try to stay within about 5 mph over and match the general flow of traffic, while avoiding weaving or erratic behavior.
Bottom line: There is no universal “safe” amount over the speed limit ; the only guaranteed‑safe speed is the posted one.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.