Iowa & Wisconsin Rank Top 10 for Speeders Across the Country

For anyone who’s driven through the Midwest, there’s something about those endless, open roads that just whispers (or screams), “Put the pedal to the metal!” But in Iowa and Wisconsin, drivers seem to have taken that suggestion to heart, with both earning spots in the top 10 for speeding across the nation! According to recent data from Insurify, both states have plenty of drivers with a lead foot, scoring quite high in drivers with speeding violations on record.

Wisconsin: Land of Cheese, Beer, and... Speeding Tickets?

In the land of cheese and Packers, Wisconsin is famous for a lot of things, and now, speeding violations are one of them! Landing at #2 nationwide, a whopping 7.8% of Wisconsin drivers have at least one speeding ticket on their record. Maybe it’s the call of those wide-open rural highways, or perhaps it's their impatience to make it to the nearest tailgate (and beer). Either way, Wisconsin drivers aren’t shy about their speed.

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Wisconsin also made national headlines when a driver clocked in a record-breaking speeding ticket! In August 2024, the Wisconsin State Patrol clocked a motorcycle going a staggering 175.7 mph.  No word on whether they were late to that brat grill out. Heck, that’s fast enough to pull the spots right off the cows on a drive by. Even the "fastest roads" in Wisconsin top out for the legal limit at 65 mph.

"Ok, so Marshall is from Minnesota, but come on, same difference," said the Iowa boy. By the way, the state is taking steps to slow things down. Milwaukee has launched close to 50 “traffic calming” projects aimed at keeping drivers from turning city streets into their personal speedways. And with fines ranging from $80 to $800, and the possibility of jail time, the message is clear: you can be a Packers fan (I guess), just not a speed demon.

Iowa: Cornfields and Cruise Control... or Not

Iowa might be known for its cornfields and quiet towns, but its drivers have a surprisingly heavy foot! The Hawkeye State comes in at #4 for speeding violations, with 7.1% of its drivers rocking a ticket on their record. And despite a posted basic speed limit of just 55 mph and a max statewide of 70 mph, Iowa’s drivers still feel the need for speed. To be honest, once I hit I-80 on my way to the in-laws, I've even been known to clock in at anywhere from 75 to 80 mph on occasion.

For the record, Iowa’s highest issued speeding ticket saw a driver hitting 188 mph—a pace more suited for Germany's Autobahn than the Midwest! Maybe they mistook I-80 for the Indy 500? Whatever the case, the speeding tickets range from $80 to $625, with higher fines possible for school or construction zones. And yes, 30 days in jail is also a possibility if you’re caught barreling through at warp speed. In this case the driver will pull down a ticket close to $800, but what's really going to cost them is the insurance increase.

Speaking of Insurance Rates...

Once that speeding ticket hits, your premium might just take off faster than you did! On average, American drivers shell out about $211 a month for full coverage, but a single speeding ticket can crank that up to a cool $294 monthly. Basically, that little ticket turns your insurance rate into a mini-rocket, launching it by about 39%. So, if you’d rather keep that cash for things that bring you joy (like not paying for your lead foot), sticking to the speed limit, or at least leaving on time, is truly the easiest budget hack.

The Top 10 Speediest States

Wisconsin and Iowa are joined by a handful of other states that have a bit of a lead foot. Here’s that top 10 list:

1. North Dakota - 8.7%
2. Wisconsin (tie) - 7.8%
3. Ohio (tie) - 7.8%
4. Iowa (tie) - 7.1%
5. Idaho (tie) - 7.1%
6. Wyoming - 6.8%
7. South Dakota - 6.7%
8. Virginia - 6.6%
9. Utah - 6.5%
10. Oregon - 6.4%

So, if you’re passing through Wisconsin or Iowa and see someone whizzing by, remember that it’s not just you—they’re part of a proud tradition of Midwest speeding legends! And who knows? Maybe they’re just trying to make it home before the milk goes bad, the bread molds, and the eggs hatch.