Most of us would like to identify ourselves as safe and careful drivers, but it is likely that there are occasionally times when we drive one or two miles above the legal speed limit. This might be because of an increased acceleration due to traveling down a hill, or just because we did not keep a close eye on our speed as we were traveling down the highway.
Minor violations of the legal speed limit usually go unpunished because they are not excessive enough to be detected, and they are not generally unsafe. However, when a car is driving five or more miles over the legal speed limit, there could be safety implications.
When is speeding the same as reckless driving?
A person can be speeding because he or she was not aware of his or her speed, or because there was a sudden change in the legal speed limit and he or she was not aware that he or she was in fact speeding. While these actions would be identified as a speeding traffic violation, it is unlikely that they would be considered as reckless.
When a driver is charged with reckless driving, it means that he or she acted with disregard for the safety of others on the road. In some states, this means that a driver is charged with reckless driving if he or she is driving 25 or more miles above the legal speed limit.
If you have been accused of reckless driving in Pennsylvania but you do not believe that you were acting dangerously, there is a possibility that the change could be downgraded. It is important that you research the law around your specific situation.
Source: FindLaw, “Reckless Driving,” accessed March 08, 2018
