Recently Nebraska State Troopers reported an alarming increase in the number of motorists cited for driving over 100 miles per hour – 319 in the first 100 days of 2025. This was a substantial increase over previous years. Speeds over 90 miles per hour also increased.
| Year (First 100 Days) | 90+ MPH Citations | 100+ MPH Citations |
| 2025 | 1,469 | 318 |
| 2024 | 1,385 | 289 |
| 2023 | 1,224 | 251 |
| 2022 | 1,092 | 218 |
| 2021 | 941 | 209 |
(https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/high-speeds-rise-across-nebraska-2025)
Speeding is about more than defying posted speed limits and breaking the law. Excessive speeding leads to:
- Greater potential for losing control of the vehicle;
- An increased stopping distance – at 100 miles per hour, the distance of two football fields;
- Less effectiveness of safety equipment like air bags, seat belts and guardrails;
- Increased crash severity leading to more severe injuries;
- Fatalities – almost a third of all fatal crashes are due to speeding. In 2023, 11,775 people died due to speeding.
So why do people speed? Aggression, thrill seeking, or just in a big hurry?
Some speeding is just a matter of maturity. According to the National Safety Council, the group most likely to be in fatal speeding accidents are males between the ages of 15 to 20.
Traffic congestion can lead to speeding and other aggressive behavior, such as frequent lane changes and road rage.
Some people feel anonymous in their cars and will indulge in behavior such as speeding that is not normal for them. Or they have vehicles that will accelerate to speeds far over the limit and want to see what that engine can do.
A related problem is the increase in drag racing in Nebraska streets and highways. If you have ever been traveling on Interstate 80 or Dodge Street when racers fly around and past your car, you know how terrifying that can be. Complaints in Omaha neighborhoods of engine noise and tire squeals disturbing the peace have also been on the rise. An Omaha city ordinance just passed that increased fines and jail times for drag racing and allows for impounding of vehicles.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson signed a limited order last October that allowed for seizure of cell phones and vehicles from drag races as evidence. Often the races are recorded for social media. “I hope you have a bicycle and maybe your grandma can give you a flip phone because you might need both,” Hanson said. He has been working with the Nebraska legislature to codify increased punishments for drag racing, and deputies are passing out gift cards for the Interstate 29 Speedway – a legal option instead of using the Interstates or streets.
Whether racing for a TikTok video, or racing to an appointment – the results are annoying and dangerous for everyone in the vicinity.
If you are around a speeding driver, try to keep your distance. If they want to pass you, let them! Don’t add to the crazy.
