Episode 4 - Speeding

Speeding isn’t just about breaking the speed limit—it’s about the choices we make behind the wheel every day. In this episode of Mastering the Commute, we dive into the real reasons people speed, from frustration with slower drivers to the illusion of an “open road.” But more importantly, we explore the overlooked dangers of transition roads—the curved ramps that connect freeways, where accidents happen more often than you might think.

As a former airborne traffic reporter, I’ve seen firsthand how these roads create some of the worst backups, not from multi-car pileups, but from single-vehicle spinouts and sudden slowdowns. So today, we’re asking:

🚗 Why do we ignore warning signs, even when they’re for our own protection?

🚗 How does speeding actually create more traffic?

🚗 And what small changes can you make to drive smarter and safer?

You’ll also hear:

✔️ The truth behind those yellow speed signs on freeway ramps—and why they’re not enforceable.

✔️ How social driving habits—racing to beat a red light, retaliatory speeding—make traffic worse.

✔️ The science of speed and congestion, backed by experts like Dr. Rick August and William Beaty.

✔️ Why transition roads (not adding more freeway lanes) might be the only real solution to fixing traffic.

And here’s a question for you: What’s your biggest frustration when it comes to speeding? Do slow drivers in the fast lane drive you crazy? Do you speed up when someone is tailgating you? Head to DriveSmarterNow.com and let me know!

🔗 Helpful Resources:

•Google Maps Traffic Guide: Google Maps Help

•Apple Maps Traffic Info: Apple Maps Help

•Waze Traffic Reports: Waze Help

Next Episode Teaser:

If speeding is all about going too fast, next time, we’re slowing things down—literally. In Episode 5, we’ll talk about red lights, deceleration habits, and how stopping too fast (or too late) affects traffic just as much as speeding. Don’t miss it!

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FULL Transscript:

“Before we dive into today’s episode, I have a question for you. What’s your biggest driving frustration? Is it the guy who cruises 10 under in the fast lane? The person who slams their brakes for no reason? Or maybe it’s rubberneckers slowing down to stare at an accident that’s not even in their lane? Whatever it is, I want to hear from you, because Mastering the Commute is all about tackling the real issues that make driving stressful. And today, we’re getting into one of the biggest—speeding. Not just breaking the speed limit, but why we feel the need to speed, why we ignore warnings, and how our habits on the road—especially on transition ramps—are making traffic worse for everyone.”

Episode 4: The Truth About Speeding & Its Real Impact on Traffic

“Picture this: You’re cruising down the freeway, making great time, when you hit one of those big interchanges—you know, the ones with those tight, curving ramps connecting one highway to another. There’s a yellow sign ahead that says ‘35 MPH’… but come on, who actually slows down that much? You’re in a hurry, traffic is flowing, and it feels like a suggestion, not a rule. 

But here’s the thing—time and time again, as a traffic reporter in Los Angeles, I saw how this mindset led to crashes. In fact, some of the worst backups I ever reported weren’t from big freeway pileups or major wrecks. They were from single-car spinouts or multi-car chain reactions that started… right on these connector roads. The reason? People taking those curves too fast, not leaving enough space, and overestimating their car’s ability to grip the road.

“And that’s why today, we’re going to break down the real reason why we speed, why we ignore safety signs even when they’re there for our own protection, and how these everyday habits lead to the traffic headaches we all hate. But more importantly, I’ll tell you why transition roads are the most important factor in fixing congestion."

[Intro Music]

Introduction (0:00–2:30)

“Welcome to Mastering the Commute! I’m Randy Keith, former LA traffic reporter turned smart driving advocate. And today, we’re tackling one of the most misunderstood topics in traffic: speeding.”

“I’m not here to play ‘speed cop’ and tell you to drive exactly at the speed limit. In fact, I think we can all agree—going 2, 3, even 5 miles per hour over the limit is sometimes just the natural flow of traffic. But what I am going to challenge today is why we speed, when we speed, and how little we actually think about it.”

“We tell ourselves we speed to save time. But do we? Or is it more about frustration? A false sense of control? Or worse, social driving—where we speed simply because everyone around us is doing it?”

“And if we’re being honest, the riskiest places where we speed aren’t long, empty stretches of road. It’s those transition roads, exit ramps, and merges where physics finally catches up with us. So let’s dig into why we ignore these warnings, how speeding actually makes traffic worse, and what we can do about it.”

[Key Point 1: Why We Speed—And Why It’s Not About Saving Time] (2:30 - 7:00)

“Let’s get real—when you speed, it’s usually not because you’re calculating the exact number of minutes you’ll save. Most of the time, it’s an emotional decision.”

🔹 A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that the top reasons people speed are:

 • Open road syndrome – Seeing an empty stretch of road makes us feel like we should be going faster.

 • Frustration with slow drivers – Getting stuck behind someone going exactly the speed limit (or below) triggers impatience.

 • Social driving pressure – If the flow of traffic is moving fast, it feels ‘wrong’ to go slower.

 • Retaliation – You’ve been tailgated for miles, so the moment you get space, you floor it.

“Sound familiar? It’s not always about saving time—it’s about how we feel in the moment. And that feeling overrides logic.”

[Key Point 2: How Speeding Creates Traffic Jams] (7:00 - 12:00)

“If speeding really helped, freeways would be flowing smoothly, right? Wrong. Research by experts like Dr. Rick August and William Beaty shows that speeding actually causes more slowdowns. Here’s why:”

🔹 The Brake Ripple Effect

“One driver brakes suddenly because they were going too fast on a curve. The driver behind them reacts. Multiply that reaction down the road and suddenly you’ve got a jam.”

🔹 Lane-Hopping Chaos

“When people are speeding and weaving, every lane change creates friction. Each time you force another driver to brake, you slow down the flow.”

🔹 Fast in the Wrong Places

“Speeding on a straightaway is one thing. Speeding where roads naturally force you to slow down—like transition roads and interchanges—is where things fall apart.”

And of course, there’s the illusion of saving time. You think speeding is getting you somewhere faster, but studies have shown that on most commutes, even going 15 mph over the limit saves you less than 5 minutes.

So, let me ask you—is saving 5 minutes worth a ticket, or worse, a crash?

[Sound Effect: Brake screeching & fade-out]

Key Point 2: How Speeding Leads to More Traffic (7:00–12:00)

Here’s the paradox: Speeding actually causes traffic jams.

Let me repeat that. Speeding actually causes traffic jams.

If you’ve listened to my episode on phantom jams, you already know that most slowdowns aren’t caused by accidents or lane closures. They’re caused by drivers reacting too quickly—hitting the brakes too hard, switching lanes too aggressively, or speeding up only to suddenly slow down again.

Dr. William Beaty, who’s studied traffic flow for years, calls this the traffic wave effect—and guess what? Speeding makes it worse.

Think about a transition road—those curvy ramps that connect one freeway to another. Most of the time, the speed limit isn’t actually enforced there. The yellow signs you see on those ramps—25 mph, 35 mph—those aren’t legal limits. They’re suggestions. And yet, these roads are some of the most dangerous places on the highway.

Why? Because people don’t slow down in time.

 • Transition roads require quick speed adjustments—if you don’t plan ahead, you’ll brake too hard and trigger a ripple effect behind you.

 • Speed limits don’t mean much in congestion—but a single driver who enters a transition ramp too fast can cause a chain reaction of braking.

 • Expanding lanes won’t fix this—because no matter how many lanes you add, you still have to feed into a fixed-width transition ramp.

This is why I say that transition roads may be the only real solution to traffic. If we just adjusted how we drive on these ramps—less braking, better anticipation, smoother curves—we could cut down congestion more than any road expansion ever could.

[Sound Effect: Soft traffic sounds fading out]

Key Point 3: The Emotional Side of Speeding (

So what’s the takeaway?

Look, I get it. I used to be an aggressive driver.

But as a father of a 3-year-old, I can’t ignore the reality that speeding—real speeding—kills people. It’s not just about you saving a few minutes—it’s about how you interact with everyone else on the road.

Because ultimately, the way we drive is a reflection of who we are.

Are you the type of person who reacts impulsively? Who speeds up when you see open space, just because it feels like you should? Or are you the kind of driver who’s willing to be aware, to lead by example, to make the road just a little safer for the people behind you?

So here’s your challenge: The next time you’re on a transition road, do these three things:

 1. Look ahead and anticipate—don’t slam your brakes, ease off the gas before the curve.

 2. Imagine you’re driving a truck—a loaded semi can’t afford sharp moves, and neither should you.

 3. Lead by example—because your habits do shape the flow of traffic.

This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being aware.

[Closing: Why This Matters & What’s Next] 

“At the end of the day, this isn’t about nitpicking speed limits. It’s about awareness. Being conscious of where we speed, why we do it, and how small changes—especially on transition roads—could actually be the key to reducing congestion.”

🔹 Shoutout to Swedish Listeners!

“I also want to give a special shoutout to my listeners in Sweden! I see you, and I’d love to hear from you. How does speeding affect traffic in your city? Are your transition roads as chaotic as ours? Drop me a message at DriveSmarterNow.com—let’s compare notes!”

🚦 Next Episode Preview:

“Next time, we’re talking about red lights—why so many people speed up just to slam on the brakes, and how our stopping habits might be just as bad as our speeding ones. Ever noticed how some drivers glide smoothly through traffic while others stop-and-go constantly? We’ll break it all down.”

💡 If you enjoyed today’s episode, hit that follow button and leave a review—it helps more than you know!

🎧 And don’t forget—your driving habits shape traffic for everyone. Drive smart, stay safe, and I’ll see you next time!

[Outro Music]