Are you a safer driver on residential roads?

Think you’re a safe driver on residential roads? So does everyone else. 

Speeding is still a common habit on Pacific Northwest roads, but a new twist in the latest PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll shows how drivers view themselves versus everyone else. 

According to the 2024 poll, 87% of drivers in Seattle, Portland, and Spokane believe neighborhood speed limits should be 25 mph or lower, and most (80%) say they personally follow them often. But when asked if other drivers often obey those same limits, only 30% agreed. The takeaway? While we see ourselves as safe and responsible behind the wheel, we’re not so sure about our neighbors. 

More generally, 59% of PNW drivers admit they speed at least occasionally, with 22% saying they do so often. And nearly three in four drivers (72%) believe in a so-called “buffer speed,” assuming they won’t get pulled over unless they’re at least 5–9 mph over the limit. Some (12%) take that confidence even further, thinking they can push it 10 mph or more and still avoid consequences. 

Why do people speed? The most common answer: 66% of respondents say they do it because “everyone else is.” Others admit it happens when they’re not paying attention or because they believe they're unlikely to be pulled over.  

PEMCO encourages all drivers to stay alert, follow posted speed limits, and remember that safe driving is a shared responsibility—especially in the places we live. 

For a full summary of PEMCO’s latest Northwest Poll results, go here.